Divergences

#1

For every action, there is a consequence. Every decision, a possibility is created. What would happen if something went another way? One little action, one decision could change everything. For every single decision a mortal makes in one dimension, another is created. Infinite dimensions of infinite possibilities. Divergences.

The Loss of a Soul

Swix moved forward, helping the Jentil that was using her for support after they'd escaped from the madmans lab. With her shadow wings out, she was making as good a time as she could with 'old Jent'. The poor thousands year old mans half soul had been in the process of rotting for a while, and he'd literally burned a part of himself up trying to save them. The Split knew he'd been in pain since Feast Day, and she felt so bad that she'd been unable to help him. It hurt her inside.

One more step, and they would be on the front stairs... and that's when he slumped in her arms, becoming deadweight. Swix turned her head to look at him. "Jent?" she asked, to no answer "Jent!" She shook him lightly, hoping desperately for a word. But there was nothing. ~Jent?~ she tried, to more silence. No matter how many times she asked, she would never get an answer from him again. She was too late, his soul had burned up.

"Jent...." she said as tears welled up despite her efforts "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" she howled to the world.

#2

The woman blinked through eyes blinded by tears now, the view of the man in her arms swam in her vision. He didn't move anymore... but she could feel him... breathing? He was still alive! Maybe there was hope! But his soul had gone, and he wouldn't answer her. No, that hope was a lie she told herself in her already unstable mind as she dragged the breathing body into the Temple still on her own power. She didn't talk herself now, barely noticed people staring as she dragged him down inside the HQ while she soaked herself with her own tears.

Her heart hurt.

She couldn't help him.

He was lost.

She was alone. Alone while surrounded by others with this particular ache.

It was only at this moment as she hauled the still breathing body down into her room that she finally realised what this pain really was.

She loved him, and had realised too late to tell him.

Swix loved Jent.

#3

Weeks passed as the Split lay in her room next to the body. She barely ate, she barely drank, she never spoke to anyone. She only kept the body alive and then cried over it. Friends and colleagues were met with awkward silences, sharp words, or the occasional violent outbursts. Unknown to mortals-yet caused by them-a decision was about to cause a new universe to form.

Divergent Two

"Sssswix need to leave body alone" The Floran Thorn-Dancer stood in the doorway of her room in the Temple of Insanity, she herself had been almost as badly affected by the Jentils non-existence yet she had managed to recover just enough to notice that the Split would not recover unless prompted "He gone. Sssswix no able to bring back. Need to bring sssself back. Encampment need Ssswix. Fl-floran need Ssswix"

She got no answer. The Floran left disheartened that her friend was beyond listening. In this universe, not one but two Knights were lost as the Split starved and denied both herself and the body of water. She never said a word to anyone nor stirred from that moment on.

Divergent Three.

"Sssswix need to leave body alone" The Floran Thorn-Dancer stood in the doorway of her room in the Temple of Insanity, she herself had been almost as badly affected by the Jentils non-existence yet she had managed to recover just enough to notice that the Split would not recover unless prompted "He gone. Sssswix no able to bring back. Need to bring sssself back. Encampment need Ssswix. Fl-floran need Ssswix"

She got no answer, saddened, the Floran went to leave-then scrunched her fists up and marched back in. The Splits behaviour was very similar to a Florans, right? Well then maybe-"Ssswix need to wake up! Wake up Ssswix!" The Floran demanded, pulling the unresponsive woman up by her collar and shaking her. "Ssswix ssstill alive! Ssswix ssstill able to help othersss! Fight C! Ssswix! Floran very disssssappointed! Sssswix sssshould fight!" The Floran stopped shaking her. "If Sssswix no fight then... then Floran fight Ssswix! Fight Floran, weak flessshy!" Thorn smacked the Split around the head at least three times during this outburst. "Ssswix weak! Ssswix give up! Ssswix no friend of Floransss!"

'... GET OFF ME!" A very angry Swix roared at the last sentence, finally coming around. She blinked several times before she realised where she was and then was pulled into a bearhug by the plant when she said "Thorn? Is that you? What happened, what did I do?"

#4

Over the next days, the Split was helped to recover as best she could. However, she was still obsessed with a soulless body. Encouraged to get out and about and take a break, the Split did so. However, she also managed to horrify the entire population of The Encampment by dragging the body of the Jentil around with her. She had meals with it, and made it go to bed like it was just someone temporarily disabled who'd recover eventually. Of course, it never did. She carried a copy of the Jentils mind in the locket like she always did, and yet she had a go at a nonplussed Grathon who suggested creating an artificial soul, arguing it wouldn't really be him. Yet neither truly was the empty shell that she carried around everywhere with her.

At first, the other Knights were so thrilled she was up that they allowed this, hoping it would help after a while when she realised what she had was a shell, nothing more. Yet no matter what they tried she'd never part with it, and many were afraid if they forced it she would go back on her self destructive path. So she never got any better than this, terrifying or horrifying Encampment residents whenever she went outside. This state of affairs could not and should not last. But it wasn't even a Knight that forced the next decision.

#5

One of the days the lost Split dragged the body around The Encampment as though it was the most natural thing in the world, many of the Encampments residents giving her a wide berth as she wandered around the marketplace, staring and muttering to themselves about the mad Knight. Looking away whenever she glanced at them. This day the skies were clear-until they weren't anymore. Dark clouds along with the distant sounds of thunder suddenly appeared.

~You need to stop this Swix~

The Split stopped, and then looked up. She recognised that voice. "Stop what? I'm not hurting anyone"

~I beg to differ. You are hurting yourself~

"I'm not. I'm just walking"

~In the company of an empty shell~

"In the company of hope!" She shook her fist at the voice in her head.

~There is a difference between hope and delusion. This is delusion~

"You know I really am starting to dislike you"

Lightning arced across the sky ominously.

~I gave you a chance. You are forcing my hand~

"Wait, wha-" A bright bolt arced down out of the sky at that moment with the accompanying thunderous roar.

~I want my Knight back~

#6

Swix blinked, rapidly. Temporarily blinded by the strike, yet entirely unharmed. But.... that was ash, in her hand. Cinders. There was nothing of the body left, it had been entirely disintegrated. Swix stood there, staring at nothing, nothing but ashes that blew away in the wind. Shaking, it took the Knight a full half hour to pull herself together and get moving again.

Divergent Four

Swix left The Encampment, the residents parted ways for the equally angry and saddened Split. They remembered her walking like this when she was tainted with corruption and did not wish to get in her way. Swix headed straight for the Furnace Caverns where she once used to dwell, seeking her old Council colleagues who helped her the only way they knew how, that she was familiar with. That Swix recovered eventually, after a while.

But this is not her story.

Divergent Five

Swix left The Encampment, the residents parted ways for the equally angry and saddened Split. They remembered her walking like this when she was tainted with corruption and did not wish to get in her way. Swix headed straight for the Temple, she was a Knight! She could do this. She could be.... better. Had to be better. The Split got under the shield and as far as the entranceway, looking inside.

Seeing Shalim though, almost instantly something snapped. The Dragonfury that Swix could only ever call upon before out of pure instinct appeared. Its features were twisted, it was no longer the resplendent Shadow Dragon with sleek features that it had been before. Responding to the Splits state, the massive Dragonfury that glowed out of its leathery hide stretched over a bony skeleton with purple Arcfire that burned with cold appeared on the opposite side of the Temple and proceeded to knock it down in a frenzy with a roar of fury. It took a split second, no time for anyone or anything to react. .

All the while Swix stood there, breathing in the dust as dark tears of pure despair trickled down her cheeks and fell to the floor.

#7

The Split stood there, Despair in the form of black, thick tears staining her face. Her Dragonfury roared again once the Temple lay as rubble. Swix's eyes had become as black as the tears that stained her skin as they slowly ran down. Never again would this Swix's eyes be nornal or colourful, never again would her tears be clear.

What had become clear to the imbalanced Split in that momebt howecer was the realisation that she could never again forgive anyone for anything. She would clean up Pax in as brutal a manner as she could, starting with the last person who had threatened both her and the Jentil. Who'd caused him to burn up his soul. The mad scientist Dr. Rembrandt Lockwell in his lab under the Encampment was first on this hitlist that would rapidly degenerate to anyone that had said anything bad at any point of her or him.

#8

Swix left the Temple then, the new and terrible Dragonfury following along with her. She sprouted dark shadowy wings and took off into the sky. Swix hovered above The Encampment for a moment, then dived into the restaurant Reverie had been using as a front, spinning and covering herself in shadows to lessen the impact as the building shattered around her at the sheer force of the impact whilst the determined Split dove down, down, breaking the mad scientists elevator as she did so.

Above, the settlement rumbled as though under the influence of an earthquake, and a massive crack in the ground that led down, deep deep down to Remys lab opened up from the force of Swix's vengeance. Multiple explosions rocked the already unstable ground and screams were heard far away as the fallen Split took no prisoners. Those were the screams of the dying.

Swix forcibly broke through one of Remys bulletproof windows, piledriving right into the scientist before he could run away in his hidden escape pod. The woman broke the mans back from the impact of the pair colliding into a metal wall. Remy slumped onto the ground, white lab coat flared about him when the Split pulled back and stood over him. "This is all your fault" she said, disturbingly calmly to the crawling, parasite infested mutant.

"My children... You are killing... My.... My children" the crazed scientist protested, at which point she picked him up with shadow arms by the scruff of his neck and looked straight into his eyes. "I no longer care" She formed a Shadow Sphere-not in the air, but in his heart. The Queen dropped her control enough for him to look hurt and confused before she dropped him. "No wait! I didn't do anything! I'm innocent! Don't leave me here like this!" He pleaded as she walked back over the hole she'd made. She glanced over her shoulder. "I'm not" and then flew away.

As soon as the Split reached the top of the ground through the massive crack her vengeance had opened Remy's heart and the scientist himself exploded with the most powerful force yet to rock the settlement. There was no going back now.

#9

Swix hovered above there as the Dragonfury roved around The Encampment, raving and roaring outwardly as much as Swix was inside as it tore people apart or burned them with freezing flames. "And one for you. And one for you. And one for you" Swix repeated calmly, firing her explosive Shadow Spheres at anyone else who ran-or didn't. This was fast degenerating into a massacre-Swix no longer cared who was innocent or not, they all had to die-and the Splits eyes continuously leaked thick dark tears. The Split noticed a line of civilians below her being led off by the huldra Solveig and raised a hand to loose a particularly large Shadow Sphere at her former friend...

Divergent Six

That Sphere never found its mark for at that moment two things happened. CP ran out of the Horn and Halo and jumped on top of a collapsed house to get closer, calling up. "Swix what's the mattter with you? Don't you know these are innocent people? You're killing your friends! You shouldn't do that. It's bad". This caused the crazed Split to look down at the rodent, shifting position enough to try to aim the Sphere at CP, moving just far enough for several plasma blasts from Toms rifle-who'd managed to manouvre behind her whilst directing people to the evacuation-to hit her square in the neck.

That Swix fell, the Sphere exploded harmlessly above her, the Dragonfury disappeared and she'd slipped into the darkness of death long before she hit the ground.

#10

Divergent Seven

That Sphere never found its mark, for at that moment two things happened. CP ran out of the Horn and Halo and noticed the Split was about to unleash a particularly powerful explosion upon the retreating civilians and so unleashed a powerful lightning bolt straight at her. In the air, Swix screamed as the familiar electricity coursed through her and lost control enough to both hit the ground and pass out from the impact, plus avoid the incoming shots from Tom as they just narrowly missed their target.

Divergent Eight

That Sphere never found its mark, for at that moment two things happened. CP ran out of the Horn and Halo and jumped on top of a caollapsed house, calling up. "Swix what's the matter with you? Don't you know these are innocent people? You're killing your friends! You shouldn't do that. It's bad" This caused the crazed Swix to look down at the rodent, shifting position enough to "-SWIX NO! I'm your friend! Are you going to kill me?". The mouse looked... pathetic. She recognised that look, he'd used that during the times they'd been working together. That thought alone gave Tom, who'd managed to manouvre himself behind the crazed Swix whilst directing the civilians towards the evacuation-enough time to aim accurately at the Sphere, causing it to explode prematurely next to the Split and knock her out of the sky. She also lost an arm, but that was a small price to pay compared to all those lives.

#11

Divergent Nine

That Sphere would not have found its mark. Wouldn't have, if Swix had chosen to hear what the pikachu that had just ran out of the inn had to say. But she didn't, and tossed the particularly powerful ball of explosive shadows over at the huldra that was helping people. CPs pleas were but buzzing in her ears right now, though mildly annoying nonetheless. Half snarling, the Split moved down a bit in the air as she concentrated on the rodent, no longer paying any attention to Solveig or the evacuees as the resultant explosion rocked The Encampment. This movement was done coincidentally enough for the plasma bolts from Toms gun that had been almost perfectly aimed to whizz past her shoulders, dangerously close to her neck.

This made the Split spin around sideways. Dammit, why hadn't she been thinking about that? She could have died! This kicked in the adrenaline enough for the Split to do something she'd never done before. For the first time ever, Swix called upon the shadows from where they were on the ground, under or around the buildings, or attached to people. She called forth Shadow Vines, and they grew outwards from everywhere.

CP attempted to run to avoid the dark plants, but one was lucky enough to knock the rodent off his feet and allow the others to entangle and then pierce him-as they were doing to so, so many others.

At this same time Tom was having to concentrate on trying to save his own life. The little near miss had attracted the attention of Swix's subconsciously controlled and now hideous Dragonfury to his position. It breathed the purple arcfire, intending to burn the leader of the Knights. He responded by getting out of the way as the tilt of the Dragons mouth gave its intentions away and shot at it when he landed. Unfortuntely, this beast was made of shadows and the blasts only managed to briefly disrupt its form before it was on him again. Tom aimed once again at Swix as the Dragonfury tilted its mouth for another blast of arcfire-she was distracted right now, if he could just hit her once this thing would go away. Unfortunately for him this distraction was the shadow vines, and they popped out of his own shadow and dragged both of his arms to the floor. He managed to pull the trigger before his aim was entirely lost, but would never get to see what his last shot had accomplished for the purple flames washed over him then.

Swix screamed, Toms last shot had found its mark, though not a fatal one. The last plasma blast hit her left shoulder and burned with an incredible intensity as she hovered above there and held it, blinking at the destruction below her.

What had she done?!

#12

Swix looked around at the destruction she'd caused-ground rended and torn, peoples bodies everywhere, torn, ripped apart or burnt with coldflame by her outburst. She walked for a few minutes, then thought of something. The Split flapped up once and flew over to the area where the civilians had been escaping. Maybe Solveig had gotten out of the way of the blast in time, maybe this wasn't as complete as it looked.

Alas, once she got there she saw the huldras mangled body, half of it utterly obliterated. Yet behind her there were still footprints. From the looks of it Solveig had used her own body as a shield against the blast, which meant that someone else had taken over the evacuation. Someone Solveig had trusted incredibly well to be able to do so. Someone that Swix could never see again without there being a conflict.

Sure enough, there were Thorns distinctive footprints leading away from here-and sure enough, there was Thorn off in the distance with the retreating civilians, holding a gun pointed at her. The pair of them considered each other for a few tense moments before...

Divergent Ten

Thorn-Dancer fired her weapon, her freeze gun she'd been working on to hold C or other troublesome immortals. Swix just stood there, not bothering to defend herself, she hung her head in shame before the freeze ray hit her, encasing her in ice where she'd never be able to make trouble for anyone ever again.

Divergent Eleven

Thorn-Dancer lowered the freeze gun, turned around and walked away at the exact moment Swix too turned away and walked back. This was something she'd never be able to take back and knew noone would ever be able to forgive. ~Floran... dissssappointed~ Was the last thing she'd ever hear from Thorn using their connection.

#13

Swix walked through the mess sbe had caused, the chaos and destruction because of her. Some of it was even still on fire, burning with the purple coldflames of the Dragonfury. Sighing, the Split picked her way through the rubble until she came upon a spade. However, she got close enough to reach a hand out for it before she felt the recognisable tip of a blade in her back.

Divergent Twelve

It wasn't just the tip she felt, but the whole thing as the blade was forcefully driven inside, piercing a lung so she could not even scream. Swix gasped for air as blood ran down her mouth and then collapsed to her knees before toppling forwards as the life drained out of her.

"Apologies Swix" came the cold, calculating voice of the assassin Fade "But you are too great a danger for me to allow you to live"

Divergent Thirteen

There was a point, she was sure, but then it wasn't there. Maybe she was paranoid, everyone around here was dead. Lightly shrugging, Swix reached for the spade before drawing her hand back with a sharp "Agh!". A small cut had opened on her finger, probably from a splinter. She picked up the spade more carefully this time and walked out of the Encampment to start digging whilst the pain in her shoulder panged at every load she dug. after five minutes, she grew exceptionally lethargic. at seven, she collapsed onto the floor in exhaustion. At nine, Fade revealed herself sat next to the Split, watching her. "Apologies. This time I will not save you. You are too dangerous. But you will feel no pain". At ten minutes Swix passed out, at half an hour all of her internal organs had shut down and she had passed away.

Divergent Fourteen.

"Fade" Swix stated bluntly. Very few people could sneak up on her like that, even fewer would hold a blade to her back after seeing this.

"Swix. What happened here? What did you do?"

"I lost it, Fade. I lost it completely. I couldn't control myself"

"I've seen you lose it before. Never to this extent unless there was an outside force compelling you to. Was there this time, Swix?"

"I don't know"

"I see. Then I cannot allow you to live"

"I understand"

That little exchange was interrupted by a yell as Fade had her legs wrapped around by a pair of shadow vines, they then slithered up the assassins legs after yanking her away from Swix so that she could no longer pose harm to the Split. Swix sighed and turned around to face the bound assassin before she spoke again.

"I don't know how what happened, happened, but I do know this much. You are relentless, old friend, and I cannot die just yet. I feel that I still have things to do. So since I don't want to die and you won't rest until I'm dead for the threat I've just proven I am. That means only one of us is leaving here alive today-and it's not going to be you. I will make it quick, for old times sake"

Swix turned away as her friends head exploded from the Shadow Sphere she'd just created within it, and then waited for the inevitable furious draconic roar from underground. She wasn't disappointed.

#14

The roar was soon followed by a rumble and a small, localised earthquake as a furious Furnaces head, neck and upper body broke through the surface. Swix stood in front of the angry Dark Fire Dragon, watching the mythical beast froth at the mouth in rage.

"Swix!" he yelled, spittle flying everywhere "You killed Fade! I don't much care about the rest here but you killed one of our group. How could you?" he added a snort to the end of his sentence.

"She was going to kill me first-so I guess that puts me out of the group then, doesn't it Furnace?" the Split answered, then watched the Dark Fire Dragons lips curl over his fangs even further. "But I've spilt enough blood of old and new friends today. Go home. Furnace. I don't want to have to hurt you too"

"You know I cannot do that now" Swix nodded, and Furnace tilted his head back before breathing rock melting flames at his former friend. Unfortunately for him, Swix's Dragonfury appeared once more, but on the Dragons back, knocking off his shot just just enough to miss Swix and hit the wreckage of the Encampmet and set the bodies aflame. Swix felt heat pass her by, but didn't flinch. "I mean it Furnace. I don't want to have to hurt you too. There's been enough death caused by me today"

The plea though didn't stop the hot headed Dragon, who continued to spew flames all around them trying to hit the more nimble Swix with a shadow dragon on his back. Swix sighed,forming the Shadow Wings once more and flew up into the air whilst Furnace was preoccupied. The Encampment and all the bodies would be burnt to ash now, Furnaces fire had spread so rapidly. Narrowing her eyes, Swix saw no other choice. She made the Dragonfury rip off both of Furnaces wings after clawing him in the eye to blind and disorientate him. A clash of two thick skulls sent half of one of Furnaces horns flying, and Swix hovered there until she was sure this was over, at which point the apparition disappeared.

"Don't follow me Furnace!" She warned him, before turning around and flying off. At least burning the bodies freed her from having to dig graves

#15

"Don't come back here Swix!" The Dark Fire Dragon called after the retreating Split, even though he'd been soundly thrashed "If you do I will kill you next time! No matter what it takes! You hear me?!" The Dark Fire Dragon grunted and returned back underneath the ground.

Swix flew, far away, gritting her teeth with her now forever-black eyes closed with the magical tears leaking out until she could literally cry no longer. In just one moment she'd messed everything up, everything, and gotten herself outcast by every friend she hadn't just murdered. She could never go back anyway, never.

The Split kept going until she'd almost exhausted herself flying and executed what was less of a landing and more of a controlled crash far away in the forests of Ana, where she rested against a tree trunk for an unknowable amount of time as she slipped into a lethargic state of despair.