(Rose)
I'm suddenly being hugged tenderly by a twin of myself I had never met. Except we're both naked, and I never had a twin, so I feel more surprise than joy at first.
R - Blume... My, how you've grown!
She lets me go from her arms and looks at herself. She bursts out in loud laughter. I follow her in that amusement.
Her skin is covered with weird and wide scars, and she's quite skinny, but she looks quite healthy.
I take a better look at my new self along the way. We have the same kind of oddly stretched and oversized belly button.
I want to ask, but before that...
I catch her arm, I lean her, and kiss her strongly, until she fights me off in order to breathe.
I then hug her a little more gently. We stay that way a little while.
R - Sorry. That might have been a little narcissist of me, given your look, but I'm so glad to see you again Blume. I love you so much. And thank you for everything that you've done.
B - Oh... Everything?
R - Yes, everything... Silly... I didn't expect that at all, but thank you.
She had asked with a very teasing tone. And yes, the pleasure was really nice.
Now I'm just laying my hands on her shoulders, looking at... her. Though the look of her face is quite disturbing. I bow my head a little. She has a face now, but that one is... Well.
R - You love me so much... It's hard to compare.
B - Oh, please don't feel bad. I love you. I love you!
The upcoming tears turned into a laugh at her childish tone. She did not change in a way. It really is her behind that gloomy face.
~
I ask her a moment later. Why does she look like me?
R - Did you make two bodies?
B - No, it's the dragon. Do you remember it?
R - My memory is still quite fuzzy. I remember you at least. What we encountered during our travels is slowly coming back.
B - The Dragon is a being that accepted to make copies of your body. It was far quicker than if I had to do it myself. It gave me an empty body while it completed yours. Then I finished the job of resurrecting you my way.
R - So... I did die... What happened?
B - Well... We'll have to talk about that for a while, but for now I'll just say that we were brutally killed yes.
R - Why not talk about it now?
B - It's because I've planned something for us and that we should get ourselves ready about a few things.
R - We should hurry you mean?
B - A little yes. I'm afraid that now that you've awoken, our killer may try to hunt us down again. Before you ask, it's the Ogre we've met before.
R - Ogre? Ogre... Ogre! It's still alive?
B - I'm afraid so. It tortured you before killing you. I was powerless. If or when it realises that you're still alive, it will hunt us down again for sure. That's why I think we should hurry a little.
R - I see... You have a plan you said?
B - Yes. We'll have to discuss the details but I have a few possible solutions up my sleeve... Well. Figuratively speaking of course.
Obviously. She takes my hand for us to walk away. I didn't move. Something feels off. She looks back at me.
B - What is it?
R - Are you... Are you human now? Ah, well you did all this so you still have your powers. But...
My chest feels cold between my breasts. It feels empty... It disturbs me. She looks at me with round eyes, surprised.
B - You'd rather have me return inside your body?
Having her own body must be convenient for her obviously... I'm being egoistic, but I miss her being right there on me. I shyly nod.
R - Please... Return to me...
She comes to hug me tightly again. It feels very weird feeling her skin against mine. She's patting my head gently. She's reassuring me.
R - Don't worry Rose. I'm still the same mean little flowers and this body is temporary. I will return to you soon enough. But before that, we should prepare ourselves to face Ogre a last time.
She holds my hand tightly.
B - I won't let you go, no matter what I look like. You can trust that. My love for you remains the same.
R - Thank you... I felt very hollow and anxious for a moment, but I'll adapt... I'll survive.
B - I know you will. You will always survive Rose. Though, it's sweeter for both of us if we can keep holding hands, and kiss.
R - Indeed, you haven't changed.
She grins maliciously and steals a light kiss from me.
B - Except now, I can do that. Come my love. We have much to discuss for the beginning of this new life of ours.
R - Our new life... A new life... You're incredible. Even death can't stop you.
B - Not the kind you know indeed. My love too seem to be a different kind, but I'm so happy that you manage to accept it.
R - I've grown to love you too. You're my sweet loving flower on my arm...
~
We've left the shell to decay in the swamp. We entered the woods nearby through a path. Good thing it's a warm summer day because we're naked, and unlike her, I don't feel at ease at all like that.
A luggage was left there with some clothes. A gift from my friends no doubt, and Blume knew.
At last, we dress up.
R - This feels so weird looking at you and seeing myself.
B - Ah, well, I know better how you experience life now. The Dragon doesn't have other samples of human beings so it can only create copies of you.
R - I see... And it didn't need to go through childhood, it grew adult from scratch?
B - I guess it could create babies of you, but we were made adults yes. I can't ascertain it for sure, but I think it's about how you were when you first met it.
R - In term of age? Well, maybe it is a little younger... Or it's just not as experienced to travel yet again.
B - Probably indeed. Don't worry, it'll come back quickly. Although, you now are a little more than before.
R - What do you mean?
B - You now have some power like me. You can use magic if you want.
R - ... Why? Can I fly?
B - I asked it to prepare us to face the Ogre. About flying, I'm not sure, I don't think so. You have some power but not that much. You have just enough to make it a fair fight against Ogre.
R - A fair fight? You're kidding?
B - No. We need to set a plan first, but we have enough power to face it one time.
R - Then we'll have to make it count. So I have some power from a dragon now? My dad would have loved to hear such a tale...
I've return from the dead as a dragon warrior now... I need a Chinese sword?
We laugh about it as we walk away. She then tells me a little more about what that Dragon truly is.
Then we'll plan our next journey, and our next encounter against Ogre. We must, in order to achieve a better outcome. I'm feel guilty regarding that. Maybe as she said, I started a war I shouldn't have. Now we must win properly.
Our friends are closeby. We will probably go greet them. Shortly too, but first we'll prepare ourselves a little more. Dear...
I'm alive again...
~