Interstice The world went red in a whirlwind of golden sparks, and twisted into inky blackness... The first sensation to return to the Queen of Ember was the Light. Then the heat, and the warmth, like that of being within the womb. Not that Corrine remembered what it had been like within her mother before her birth; but if she had ever had a mind to try and imagine such a feeling, she figured this is what it would be like. Warmth within a comforting, secure embrace, without a care or concern in the world, without concious thought or sensation. Though, now that she thought about it, if she was in the womb, she wouldn't be clothed. Nor, for that matter, would she be aware of her state. Was she dead, then? She couldn't tell for sure, as she rather doubted she would be in her silver armor if she was dead, or her queenly rainment, or rather much of anything... "Oh. Wait. I'm not dead, am I." NOT IN THE MANNER YOU WOULD CONSIDER SUCH, YOUR HIGHNESS. Corrine tilted her head, glancing over her shoulder before turning around to face the voice that had addressed her. "Well, hello, good Sir Pyricorn. It'd been a while," the currently- discorperated Queen of Ember said as she sketched a quick curtsey towards the flaming, winged unicorn that stood before her. YES, IT HAS, QUEEN CORRINE. The Pyricorn ducked its head in acknowledgement towards the chestnut-haired woman. "So... what happened? How fare the others? Or does that count as 'I can't tell you until you're booted back out of the Pattern'?" I BELIEVE I CAN BE ACCOMIDATING THIS ONCE. ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU WILL LIKELY HEAR FROM YOUR FAMILY SOON ENOUGH. "... true enough." Corrine considered, and sat down in front of the flaming stallion, even though there was no true 'floor' in this place, if it even was a place. "So... how did it go?" HEL'S PRIMAL PATTERN HAS DISSOLVED AWAY, AS PRINCE DRAKE PLANNED. HEL'S CHAOS HAS BEEN REBORN, AS THE SERPENT'S BRIDE INTENDED. THE TURTLE MOVES, GUIDED BY THE JEWEL BRIDE'S EYE. THE ARMIES OF THE DEAD HAVE FOUGHT THOSE OF THE UNDEAD, AND HEL HAS BEEN SLAIN BY YOUR SISTER'S HAND. Corrine let out a shuddering breath, a mixture of relief and fatigue. "Thank the Unicorn and Pyricorn," she murmured under her breath, and then glanced up at the winged elemental avatar, sheepishly. "It's over. Good Pyricorn, it's over..." FOR NOW, AT LEAST, YOUR HIGHNESS. The Queen glanced up at the Pyricorn, one slim eyebrow arched. "And what's -that- supposed to mean?" THE STORM QUIETS, BUT SHALL COME AGAIN. THE FIRES OF CONFLICT ARE QUELLED FOR NOW, BUT SHALL BE REIGNITED IN THE PASSAGE OF TIME. Corrine rolled her eyes. "Great. Just what I needed, -more- things to worry about. The cleanup from -this- affair is going to make the Annadil Crisis look like minor accounting errors... nevermind I can't -be- there to help Kanna with coping with it right now." I BELIEVE YOUR DAUGHTER WILL ENDURE, YOUR MAJESTY, EVEN IF SHE DISCOUNTS HER EFFECTIVENESS AT TIMES. HER MOTHER'S BLOOD RUNS IN HER VEINS, AND THAT OF HER FATHER AS WELL. Corrine giggled slightly, a fond smile playing over her lips. "-That's- certainly true. I wonder... did she make it through okay? And the rest?" THE CROWN PRINCESS OF EMBER HAS SURVIVED, AS HAVE MANY OTHERS. BUT MANY OTHERS HAVE FALLEN AS WELL. SHE STANDS ON THE PLAIN OF METAL WITH HER AUNTS IN THE SHADOW OF THE FIVE-FOLD KEEP, CONSOLING YOUR SISTER DURING HER TIME OF GRIEF. The queen blinked, and a vague icicle of dread stabbed through her heart. "This isn't about me, is it?" she asked, hoping what she suspected was not true. "I mean, it's not like this pattern-death-regeneration thing is something I could really explain right now..." THE CHILD OF FIRE AND THE EVER-BURNING BRAND HAVE FALLEN, QUEEN CORRINE. DEFENDING THE BRIDE OF THE SERPENT AND HER LOVES DURING THE RITE OF HIGH SUMMER. "....no...." Corrine whimpered, a hand moving for her mouth. "Oh Unicorn, -no-... Dammit, I should -be- there for Juri right now..." YOU NEED NOT WORRY, YOUR HIGHNESS. THE UNICORN AND THE SERPENT NOW WATCH OVER THEIR SPIRITS, AS YOUR MOTHER'S SPIRIT WATCHES OVER HER DESCENDANTS. Corrine blinked once more. "Uh... Run that by me, again?" THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MOTHER IS CURRENTLY, AS THE VERNACULAR GOES, 'CORRINE-HUGGING' AND CONSOLING YOUR SISTER, YOUR DAUGHTER, AND YOUR REBORN SISTER. AND YOUR TWO DECEASED SISTERS ARE EATING WATERMELON PROVIDED BY THE TURTLE'S HEART. A mixed expression, one of concern and wistfulness, crossed her face. "... oh. Well. Now I -really- wish I could be there..." I AM SURE THAT YOUR DAUGHTERS AND SISTERS WILL FILL YOU IN, QUEEN CORRINE, ONCE YOUR BODY AND SOUL ARE REUNITED BY THE FIRE PATTERN. "Mmm, yes, speaking of that... any idea how long that'll -take-?" THAT DEPENDS ON MANY FACTORS, YOUR MAJESTY. "Such as?" HOW MUCH DAMAGE YOUR BODY TOOK DURING THE BATTLE WITH HEL'S CONCUBINE AT HEL'S PRIMAL PATTERN. THE STRENGTH OF THE BINDINGS BETWEEN YOUR SOUL AND YOUR SPIRIT. THE DISTANCES BETWEEN THE UNIVERSES OF YOUR AMBER AND THE NEW ARCADIA. AND WETHER OR NOT THE CROWN PRINCESS AND THE RED KNIGHT CAN CONVINCE YOUR ELDEST NOT TO RUSH THE EXTRACTION. "In other words, not a clue." NOPE. At that, the Queen of Ember barked out a short laugh, and leaned back on her hands where she sat. "Should have figured," she breathed, another smile on her lips. "Ahwell." For a time, she sat there, lost in thought. The Pyricorn continued to stand in front of her, ever-burning but never consumed, its wings rustling and tail flicking as the woman quietly reflected on everything that had transpired over the past months. "You know.... despite all of the things Kanna's been involved in... all the trials and tribulations and deceptions and stuff... she's done good. Once she picked a worthy goal, she set to it and kept at it. And she succeeded. She defeated the Outsider Heralds. She got Juri back." SHE IS A WORTHY HEIR TO THE THRONE OF EMBER, YOUR MAJESTY. YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF HER. "Oh, I know -that-... and I am. She's my baby, after all." She smiled some more. "I love her. She may gripe about taking the reins of power, but then again... so did I, as you all may recall." YES, WE DO. Corrine arched her eyebrow again. "Well, you don't have to sound -enthusiastic- about it, good Pyricorn..." she commented with slight sarcasm. IT'S BEEN A BUSY SEVERAL MONTHS, QUEEN CORRINE. RINBU'S APPEARANCE IN EMBER DIDN'T HELP MATTERS FOR MY PEACE OF MIND, THOUGH HIS SKILLS WERE SUFFICENT TO REMOVE THE VEIL OF LIES FROM YOUR REBORN SISTER'S EYES. "Yup, I can see that. At least it was for a good cause." YES, IT WAS. The Queen of Ember considered things for several moments, and then stood up and approached the Pyricorn, looking deep within its eyes that burned like coals. YES, CORRINE? "Just... well... would it be okay if I gave you a hug?" The stallion blinked, and then lowered his head as it took a step forward, within Corrine's reach. AS YOU WISH, YOUR MAJESTY. The Queen smiled, and reached through the flames without fear to embrace the Pyricorn's neck, her fingers tangling in his mane as she stretched on her tiptoes to speak into one of his ears. "In case I haven't said this recently... thank you." FOR WHAT? "For believing in me. In Carl. In Gabrielle. In Kanna." YOU ARE THE QUEEN OF EMBER, CORRINE. YOU RESTORED THE FIRE PATTERN. YOU BROUGHT NEW LIFE TO A REALM WHERE LIFE HAD BEEN LOST. YOUR HUSBAND AND DAUGHTERS PROTECT IT. I COULD DO NO LESS. Corrine chuckled at this, and nodded. "Well, when you put it that way..." I DO. The two stood there, the Queen continuing to embrace the Pyricorn, no words being said between them for some time. I SHOULD BE GOING NOW, YOUR MAJESTY. Corrine nodded, resting her head against the side of the equine's jaw. "I... I don't suppose I'll remember this conversation when I regenerate. Will I?" she murmured in a smaller voice. THAT DEPENDS. "On what?" HOW MUCH YOUR HEART REGARDS ITS WORTH. Corrine considered this for a moment, and then smiled back at the equine Pattern Avatar as she let go and took a step back. "Fair enough." With a crackle of flames and a toss of his mane, the Pyricorn vanished. With a start, the Queen realized that the flaming equine had spoken in her father's voice. And Corrine -- daughter of Haruka, sister of Juri, wife of Carl, mother of Gabrielle and Kanna -- laughed. FIN ----- Interstice A Story of _Unicorn No Seishi_ Written by Philip J. Moyer on 4/6/2002 Corrine, Queen of Ember, created by Philip Moyer. Disclaimer: This story was inspired by the events on 4/5/2002 in the "Unicorn No Seishi" Amber DRPG campaign conceptualized, designed, and Game Mastered by John Biles, 2001-2002. No money is being made from this story. It is copyrighted to Philip J. Moyer, 2002.