Cloudsea - The Chronicle of Alice Van Vaugen

A cool breeze drifted across Alice's cheek. She slowly opened her eyes, and found herself in a grassy field. Sitting up, she looked around, and saw that the grass stretched out in all directions. A dream then. Oh well. At least she wasn't alone. Qhen and Viss were nearby. In fact, the way she was laying down, the three of them had been making a triangle with their bodies.

She got up as quietly as she could, when she heard a sound.

Viss let out another small sound. It was like she was crying. Alice leaned down and pat her on the top of the head, and she stopped. Alice looked at Qhen, and patted them as well, and Qhen looked a little more relaxed. She would let them sleep. Hopefully they were having dreams within their dreams, and thus would not have to wake up here.

That way, by the time they next woke up, she would be long gone.

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"Empty."

"I'm here, Alice."

"Come with me."

". . ."

Alice walked a distance away. In her mind, she was forming the land, and found the spot she wanted.

She had created a cliff. She walked out to the furthest point, and looked down into the void of clouds. She sat. Empty floated up behind her, and went no further.

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"You know, before I met you, I never considered what would happen... if something happened to me."

". . ."

"Now- It's only been a few days... has it been only days?"

"I do not perceive time the same way you do, Alice."

"I know- That was a question for myself really. Rhetorical."

". . ."

"It's only been what feels like a few days- but. . . I'm still not concerned about myself. I'm concerned for Viss. For Qhen. I do not know how to deal with these feelings I am having. Especially-"

"I-"

"The fight against Viss' ENVY."

"I could feel it. It's- it's just natural for you, isn't it? You didn't try to stop me. You didn't try to warn me."

". . ."

"For a brief moment, I touched the darkness, and I felt a surge of power, and for a moment, a second- I knew what my darkness was."

". . ."

"Emotions are terrible things. They make monsters of us all. So I thought- what if we didn't have emotions? Well then. How do we do that? As long as we have free will, we will have emotions. I do not have the power to take that away from them. So the answer was obvious."

". . ."

"ENVIOUS was coming right at me. If I had fired, her death would have been instantaneous. She wouldn't have felt a thing, and she would be free from her darkness. And you...

". . ."

"You were going to swallow me. You were going to let me drown in the darkness of my own heart, and you were going to let me kill Viss. Because you don't care about her."

". . .You are correct. I do not. Or rather- I do, but only because you do. The moment you came to the crossroads, my ability to care became a superposition. Either you were going to take one path, and save her, regardless of your feelings, or you were going to take the other path, and release her from her suffering."

"And that's why we can't stay. But- What do I do? Jumping off this won't solve anything. I'll probably just wake up. Or fall forever into those beautiful clouds until I got bored of it. What if I woke up and jumped off the island?"

"I would not stop you, but I suspect Viss and Qhen would have some things to say about that- and the moment you wake up, they would wake as well, being inside your dreamspace."

"Right. So- I had been thinking. This is my dreamspace- and when we were one, I had a much larger understanding of our powers."

". . ."

"Including the illusory powers you gave me as a child."

". . ."

"Don't worry. I'm not mad you didn't say anything. I'm still not sure how long we've been together. I'm not sure that matters anymore. What matters is... It would work, the way I want it to, right? They're in my dreamspace, which means our hearts are currently connected."

". . .Yes.'

"I could disconnect our hearts- remove their memories of me?

"I can do that for you, if it is what you want."

". . .Can you make it so I can do it? If it's going to be done, I want to be the one to do it. The responsibility is mine."

"I can."

Alice slowly stood up. She looked down into the endless void. Then she looked to Empty. They extended a limb to Alice. She took it's hand- and her hands began to glow.

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"All you need to do is place your hands on their heads, and command them to forget us."

"H-Huh. All of that power- I was expecting something a little more... impressive looking."

"The most terrifying, is that which you do not suspect."

". . .So what does that make you?"

"I believe you will find that you suspect me quite often, in the depths of your heart."

"Haa. . .I guess you're right. You know, now that I have this power. . ."

". . ."

She walked slowly. She thought about what she was doing. She actually thought pretty hard on it- and every time, she came to the same conclusion.

She was too dangerous. Qhen and Viss- In standard on on one combat, they could both easily beat her. After getting a good look at their bone structure, she's not even sure if she would do any serious damage with anything less than an anti-armor shell- and she would never use something like that on Qhen. Even if they were trying to kill her. . . . Why did she think that?

Viss could, and possibly might just kill her one day. Alice thought on that. The thought didn't even worry her for a moment. Hm. A normal person would probably talk about that. She decided to just forget it instead. No, worse than that- If it was Viss. . . Would she mind dying? . . . Where- what are these thoughts?

But if she allowed these feelings to take her over- these dark feelings that Empty can't even take away from her. . . What she saw while she was Empty Alice. . . She could kill them. She would kill them. She would kill them, to spare them the suffering of living. Then what? She would probably kill the crew of the Brasstack too. Then what?

. . .Alice looked at her hands again. She looked down at her feet, at Qhen and Viss. The colder breeze had caused Viss to roll closer to Qhen, and snuggle up against them. Qhen had put an arm over them. What then?

What if- What if she had to die? No- that's not the answer. That probably would just be giving in to the darkness. She probably wouldn't even get her gun drawn before the mere intent to carry that out caused her to change.

So what was left? Her hands. She could place them on Qhen and Viss, and command them to forget. Or...

. . .A person is a collection of memories. Their name is something that they learn from others. If a person spent no time around other people, what would they even know? Her hands. The power Empty gave her. Empty could already understand her intentions. They wouldn't stop her. That's not what they do. That's what makes Empty so insidious.

Empty just watched Alice. Alice looked at Empty. She brought her hands up, just a little bit. Empty didn't respond. She brought them up to her cheeks. Nothing. Her hands fell onto the top of her head. Empty just stared. Yes. This is why Empty, and by association, why SHE was dangerous.

Empty believed in allowing Alice to choose whatever she wanted in life.

Even if that choice was something akin to death. She took in a deep breath.

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". . .I command. . ."

"The name of the person, the command, in this case 'I command you to forget'. Then the content of what you wish them to forget."

"Ha-Ha. . . Ha. . . At first, I thought you might have tried to stop me. I guess it doesn't matter who I am, as long as you can watch over me, right?"

Empty- Did they twitch just now? Alice searched their face- their hood, for anything. Some sort of abnormality that would indicate that what Alice said was incorrect. But she saw nothing. Just the same Empty.

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". . .Goodbye, Viss. Qhen. I'll- ... I guess I won't miss you, will I? I won't even- Ha..."

". . ."

"Alice van Vaugen, I command you to forget everything."

. . .

Qhen and Viss were holding onto Alice's hands tightly. They looked into her eyes. They were searching. For recognition. For anything. Anything that would indicate that they had somehow stopped her in time. She stared at them blankly. Viss' jaw slackened a little, and she made a small, high pitched hissing whine.

. . .

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". . .You were listening."

"Alice! - Alice. . ."

"OF COURSE WE WERE LISTENING, ALISS! Do not scare Viss like that!"

". . .Viss, a little while ago, you were trying to kill me. You hate me."

"That- Viss was not trying to kill you- That was ENVIOUS!"

"I'm certain you know that's not how that works, now that you are aware of it."

". . . Yes- But- Maybe Viss does hate Aliss, but Viss does not wish to see Aliss stop being. Qhen would cry. A lot. It would be a huge mess that Viss would have to clean up, all those tears."

"You're the one that's about to cry- and at least my tears do not set things on fire!"

"At least Viss' tears don't make everything look like a crime scene!"

"YOUR TEARS ARE ALSO LITERALLY YOUR BLOOD."

Alice began to laugh to herself. Qhen and Viss looked at her, and each other, and started to laugh as well.

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"Thank goodness I'm a light sleeper inside a dream, I guess."

"And that Viss could hear Aliss leave and return."

"Qhen. . . Viss."

Alice placed her hands on their foreheads.

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"I command you to forget everything about me."

They stared blankly at Alice. Viss raised a ridge over an eye.

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"Viss is pretty stupid sometimes- But even Viss understood Empty's directions. Aliss places hands on heads, THEN says names, THEN instructions."

"Wh-"

"At least get it right if you're going to do something insidious like steal our memories. Besides, Empty said names, but just our first name hardly seems accurate. Bet you need our full names. I'm Qhen Fenrose."

"Wai-"

"Viss Durrah."

". . .Why would you tell me that, if you know what my plans are?"

"Um- Because... Viss does not mind?"

"what"

"I do not know why you want to do this, Alice- But you must have a reason. So far, every reason you've had to do something has been... usually sound. I mean, you did save us, literally from ourselves- and in doing so, you saved our friendship."

"But- Viss- She..."

". . .I will never forgive Viss for what she has done. But it she told me. She was honest. We spoke for a long time. We cried. We fought. We cried some more- and in the end, we decided that we were happier being friends than enemies. And that's why we're alright with letting you do this, Alice."

"I don't understand. . ."

"Of course not! Aliss does not understand people, right? Of course Aliss would fail to understand Qhen and Viss' motivations. It's because we love you, right?"

"huh"

". . .I don't know what that really means, still. But yeah. We love you, Alice. No matter what form that love takes, now and in the future, we trust you with our lives. You've already saved them at least a couple times at this point. Besides, It's not like you'll be leaving your home, right?."

". . ."

"It will be like making friends with us, all over again! A do over! Aliss can dress nicely, and present herself with confidence, and we will be surely impressed, and she can say all sorts of things she knows about Qhen and Viss, and we will suspect you are a mind reader and-"

". . .I love you too."

"Well- Yeah. That's why Aliss is doing this, right? Some misguided attempt to protect us from something?"

"If- If I love you- and you love me- then why are you letting me do this?"

"Aliss needs to LISTEN to her friends! Viss is letting you do this, because Viss knows that whatever Aliss chooses to do. . . It's because Aliss has no capacity to worry about herself. Right? Aliss is choosing to be alone, rather than let us come to harm. It's misguided, but it's still love- And-"

"If anybody is unqualified to tell you how to express your love, it's us. So just get it over with. We forgive you already- and if it bothers you that much, you can tell us why afterwards!"

Damnit. Damnit- Damnit- Damnit- Damnit DAMNIT-

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"Qhen Fenrose! Viss Durrah! I command you to forget . . ."

Alice laid in bed, wide awake. Qhen was on one side of her, holding tightly onto her arm. Viss was doing the same, on the other side. Qhen's breath was actually pretty alright right now. It smelled minty. Viss on the other hand- Viss apparently whipped her tail around when she was sleeping. Also she flicked her tongue a lot. At least she didn't grind her teeth or something annoying like that.

But still- . . . Alice thought about what she had done to these two that had trusted her- seemingly unconditionally. How does that happen? WHY does that happen? How could they even do that?! She- She wasn't sure what she expected. Maybe she actually expected Empty to have been testing her. That it would all just be fake.

But it wasn't. She did what she did- and now she had to live with it.

Except- . . . She could already feel the tears, and she couldn't stop them, not with her arms pinned. So she cried. She could not remember the last time she cried so hard- But she couldn't stop- Until Qhen leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

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"Hhh!? Q-Qhen!?"

". . .I'm sorry. . . You just- Woke me up with your crying, and you seemed so sad- I- Jeeze. I'm sorry. It's something I used to do when Viss was crying in her sleep. I- uh."

Qhen quickly sat up and turned away, coughing to themselves.

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"Qhen? . . .How- How do you- . . . What do you think?"

". . .That's a pretty broad question. What do I think about what?"

"What do you think about me- Do you think- I mean- I-I-I..."

" 'I wuv whoo, qhem! Keesss me!' "

"AAAaHA-HA- VISS?

"Please, Aliss. This is why we fought, remember? It's pretty obvious you have feelings for Qhen."

"O-Oh. Y-yeah. SO I guess- Do you think- You might feel that way about me too?"

". . .Maybe? Maybe- in time. It's- It's pretty- Uh- I mean- We barely know each other, right?"

Right. Alice just pulled her blanket over her head, and began to cry again. Damnit. Why didn't she just- Why didn't she just wipe her own memories? She curled up into a ball. Why didn't she just wipe their memories? Why did she tell them-

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"Aliss? Aliss."

". . .Y-Yea-HHmnHN!?"

Viss' face pressed tightly to Alice's- and- oh my god- was that her tongue?! HOLD ON- Hold on HOLD- WAIT- WAIT-

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"WAIT! WHAT THE HECK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, VISS?!"

"Mmm..Hmm.. Hmm? What does it look like, Qhen? You were going to let her carry on like that- crying her eyes out. Viss comforted her. How was it, Aliss? Do you feel better?"

"I- Wh-"

"Did you really think that stupid voodoo of yours was going to work? Did you really think it would be so easy that you could command us to stop loving you?"

"I- WAIT- No- BUT- QHEN-"

". . .For the record, this was all Viss' idea. I didn't know she was going to make out with you. Would you like me to get you a mint drop to get the taste out of your mouth?"

"REPEAT THAT! Repeat that and see what happens, Qhen!"

"please- wait- what's-"

"I'm just saying, Viss- When you used to kiss me, when we were younger. . . For some reason, your mouth tasted like you've always eaten something spicy! I just thought maybe Alice would want some relief from that violent attack on her tastebuds?"

"I will eviscerate you."

"That's probably my cue to run. Alice?"

"huh-wha-hnnh?!"

Qhen tipped a hand under Alice's chin, and kissed her on the lips. Just for a moment, before they were at the door. Viss was already climbing out of bed, her dagger in hand.

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"We love you, Alice. Nothing can change that. Maybe we love you for different reasons. Maybe it's not romantic love. We don't know, and we won't know, until we explore our feelings. Just like Viss was clearly exploring your face with her tongue. Isn't that right, Viss?"

"This has gone beyond the realm of a simple insult. You have injured my innocent, maidenly heart, and for that, you will beg for death."

". . . Bye."

. . . Everything was a mess. Her room was a mess. Her bed was a mess. She could hear a mess taking place downstairs- then out the door, then on her front lawn, then down into town. Her hair was a mess. Her clothes were- not a mess. SPEAKING OF- Who keeps changing her into her Pajamas?! If the answer is anything but "Empty" or "Herself, sleep walking", Alice was going to have some words for those two and-

And her heart was a mess. What just happened? She tried to go over it all in her head. It was hard to concentrate.

. . . She just had her first real kiss. That was always an important moment in her romance novels. It was always something that they would never forget. She was- Pretty sure she wouldn't forget either. Mainly because-

. . . Viss' tongue really is kinda spicy. Not in a bad way though. Sigh.

No- you know what? She's going back to bed. She will deal with this all when she's had time to sort out her thoughts and- her mind- and- her heart and-

. . . That means get out, Universe. Go bug Qhen and Viss or something.

Good night, Everyone.

= = = Chapter 1 End = = =

---

I think, it is time that we took a tiny break. Just a tiny one. Long enough for Alice to rest. Long enough for you to get over that emotional train wreck of a post.

(BEAR WAS BADMOUTHING HIS WRITING AGAIN BUT HE REMOVED THAT PART SO PEOPLE WOULD STOP FIGHTING HIM. SORRY. ` -`)

For now, you can interrogate Empty some more. How does that sound? Ask them more questions, now that you have more information, and after a round of that, I'll bring you back into the world of CloudSea. Empty?

" Would you all care to join me for a drink? "