In the Shadow Forest, the night sky was full of mist around a bright green moon. Any creatures who had come out of hiding, hadn't come out to this particular area of forest. That was because the dragon's aura was so thick past here. The aura of a dragon was heavy, causing lesser creatures to have a hard time breathing. It was as if an ominous pressure was crushing their lungs and pushing them into the forest floor.
Oberon, who had been flying over the forest, started to lose height, unable to continue flying. Lower and lower he flew, until he had landed on the forest floor. Then he collapsed. His whole body lay against the grass, while he breathed heavily and gasped for air.
Amber climbed off of his back and patted his head reassuringly. "You two stay here," Amber said while untangling little Alina out of her hair with great difficulty.
The little light pixie hadn't wanted to 'cuddle up with a smelly egg.' So she decided to, 'claim the top of the master's head as her territory.'
Amber wasn't sure what to think about her head being claimed as territory. Should she feel flattered? Should she feel concerned? She also wasn't used to cuddlers, but that's what Alina called herself. She said that it was too late to back out now.
"No returns and no refunds," Alina had said.
Alina had sprawled herself over the top of Amber's head, gripping tightly onto her hair, while laying on her belly. Amber sighed, trying to pluck Alina off without hurting her, but her fists just tightened more.
Then Amber heard the quiet sound of snoring coming from the tiny light pixie. She felt an uncomfortable quiver in her heart and stilled her movements. Dropping her hand back down to her side, she sighed again. They traveled like that for a while, until Oberon had needed to land, and it became necessary to pull the little light pixie out of her hair.
Alina growled in her sleep, which wasn't at all intimidating. Then curled herself up into Amber's hair. It kind of felt like she'd accidentally gotten gum stuck in her hair, as she worked at removing Alina. She really needed to think of a good alternative to hold Alina, since she insisted on attaching herself to Amber in some way. Perhaps she could put Alina in a little carrier pouch, or something?
Amber pulled out some snacks and water, handing them down to Alina and Oberon. "You should be fine waiting here. However, if anything strange happens, I want you to head out towards the exit and find a large tree with purple flowers. Alina, your half brother will be waiting for me there. He'll guide you home," Amber said.
[No returns! No refunds!] Alina said.
"I'm not trying to return you. I meant that you two can come back to my home with him. You know, home," said Amber.
[Oh.] Said Alina and then widely grinned.
"Stay out of sight and wait for me here," said Amber.
[Ok, Master!] Alina said.
"Yes, Master," Oberon said.
Amber turned away from them and traveled down the trail alone. She walked through the thick green fog. The dragon's aura rolled around her. The aura nearly swallowed her up and hid her from sight, but still she didn't seem at all affected by it.
How could a mere yuki-onna not be affected by a dragon's rampant aura? Even the ordra couldn't lift its head up off the forest floor. They looked at her with a great deal of confusion, but full of pride.
The trail led to a valley between two pointy light gray mountains. These mountains were the barrier between the mid-range area of the Shadow Forest and the entrance to the most dangerous part of the Shadow Forest. The small opening through the mountains was covered by a thick metal wall, taller than the tallest trees in the forest. There was only one small door, just slightly taller than her. The door stood out in contrast against the wall. The door was pure black with a matching door handle that had a lock inside it. Amber tried to turn the nob, but it was locked. She was expecting as much.
Amber flicked her fingers towards the metal lock, but it didn't melt. Then she flicked her fingers towards the door and then the wall. Still, neither of those melted. She frowned at the metal that wasn't bending to her will.
"There's metal that I can't manipulate?" she mumbled to herself.
[Maybe you should try sitting on it? Perhaps you'll be able to crush it like a bug?] said Arabella.
"This is your body, you know," said Amber.
[Oh, now you remember whose body this is.] said Arabella.
Amber rolled her eyes. "Perhaps you could try being useful? That is, if you're capable of it," said Amber with annoyance laced into her voice.
[Hmmph! We'll just see about that. Prepare to be amazed.] Arabella said.
Soon, Amber felt that same strange feeling of having her body taken over, but this time she didn't fight it. Now that she knew what was going on, she didn't feel all that worried. After a moment, she found her consciousness sitting down in a large comfortable bedroom. The room was draped in dark red velvet. She sat at a small round white table. A tea set and snacks were sitting on top of it. In front of her was a large window, which resembled a first person shooter game. Amber poured herself some tea. Then she leaned back in her seat to watch the show. While she sipped contentedly from the little teacup.
Immediately Amber saw their body slam up against the door. Arabella tried to just slam the door open by throwing herself at it.
"Yes, very nice. Highly impressive even," Amber said in a monotone voice with their body's mouth.
"Hey! I'm in charge of our mouth right now! If anyone overhears us, they'll think we're crazy, and argue with our-self."
"Do you see anyone else around us? Oh great sage of wisdom," said Amber with their body's mouth again.
"Cut that out!" Arabella said.
After a few more attempts at trying to get the door open, in the most primitive ways possible, and ensuring Amber's mockery, Arabella slipped back into their consciousness room. She sat across from Amber at the little round table with a flushed face. Then she loudly poured herself some tea without saying anything.
Amber's eyes widened in surprise. Then she cleared her throat. "Pray-tell, if you are sitting here," Amber pointed at Arabella and then pointed at herself. "And I am sitting here. Who is controlling our body right now?" Amber said with an irritated tone and a sarcastic smile.
Arabella's eyes widened and her lips popped open like a fish. Then she quickly looked over to the viewing screen, just as it showed their body falling over.
"...And now we're eating dirt," said Amber while looking at the display screen. "Well, while we're both here, we might as well have a cup of tea together. It's not like our body's going anywhere," Amber said while taking another sip of tea. "I'm also not super excited to get into the helm again. Now that you've likely broken our nose," Amber said.
Arabella's face turned bright red in embarrassment. She quickly filled her mouth with tea, while trying to avoid Amber's gaze.
"I thought you'd have silver hair," Amber said while observing her nearly identical twin.
Arabella frowned while sipping her tea. "No. That's all you. I suppose no one noticed the difference because my hair's white. No one was paying all that much attention to me anyway; I have no magic." Her blue-gray eyes locked onto Amber's purple eyes. Resentment and hurt radiated out from there. "If only I'd had magic like you. My life would have been better. I don't know why you've been hiding your magic," said Arabella.
Amber slowly placed her cup onto the table. She nibbled on the inside of her cheek, and then she sighed.
"This isn't pretty, but it had to come out eventually. I've been trying to break off our engagement to the First Prince. I can't appear overly valuable to him or he'll never want to let us go," said Amber.
Arabella jumped up out of her seat. She placed both of her hands on top of the table and leaned on them.
"Why? Why would you do such a thing? You know how I feel about him! Even if you don't like him now, maybe you could come to like him later? I could share him with you. I would share him with you. We could love him together!"
Amber clenched her jaw and took a deep breath. "That will never happen. That vile man will never gain my love and he shouldn't have yours either."
"Why do you hate him so much? I know you don't like him, but you shouldn't hate him!" Arabella said.
Amber clenched her jaw again as their eyes locked. She saw nothing but stubborn resolve reflected in Arabella's eyes. "Look at my memories."
Arabella blinked and then sat back down onto her seat. "Why?"
"Just look at my memories," Amber reached out across the table and took Arabella's hand into her own. Then she opened her mind up to Arabella.
Amber closed her eyes so that she could concentrate on the memories that she wanted Arabella to see. As soon as she closed her eyes, Amber's previous life flashed on the viewing screen. Arabella saw a lonely woman reading a book, a book about love and adventure. Even though she had neither in her life.
The book was about a world that was shockingly similar to her own. It was full of people with the exact same names as in her world. The book was called, 'Duchess Dash.' In the book, there was a girl named Arabella who died early on. But it was still just a book. It was much easier for Arabella to tell herself that this was just a really strange coincidence. She didn't want to face any other reality.
Arabella could feel Amber starting to close off her mind. Amber had started to pull away, but Arabella held on firmly. Arabella felt sore and angry. She didn't like what she'd seen and a part of her wanted to see Amber suffer for it. She could feel it, just hidden under the surface. Amber's almost constant pain and regret. The pain she kept buried deep in her mind. So Arabella held on tightly to Amber's consciousness and pried further in. Past Amber's protective barrier, to the pain that she always kept locked away.
She saw Amber lose her best friend and the only boyfriend she'd ever had to each other. She saw Amber's family look down on her, scorn her, and finally beat her. Anyone she thought was her friend left her, one, after another. Then Arabella watched Amber spend most of her time sitting in a cramped room, all alone, with no one who cared about her. She watched Amber desperately study. She watched as Amber tried to gain her family's love, anyone's love, and failed miserably. Then she saw Amber's death. It was a brutal, bloody death. She watched Amber's insides splattered all over the road. Amber was murdered by someone she didn't even know and then she died alone.
Then Amber's memories were abruptly cut off, when she forcefully pulled herself out of the mind lock. Amber grabbed her head in pain and screamed with tears pouring down her face. The pounding in her head made it feel like it could break in half.
Arabella reached her hand out to comfort Amber.
She forcefully slapped Arabella's hand away. "Don't touch me! Don't you even touch me again! Why did you make me relive all of that?! Why didn't you let me out?! It was like I was there! It was like I was living it all again!" Amber yelled.
"I'm sorry," Arabella said in a quiet voice. Then she tried to reach out again.
"Get away from me!!!"
Amber started to breathe heavily. Faster and faster, while her eyes glazed over. Then she was out.