#eternus

"I have some more questions about what comes next. And I wanted to apologize. I was... harsh, when last we spoke."

Tawnee laughed gently. "No more than I deserved, I'm sure. You have grown so strong, Spiru. It pleases me greatly."

Spiru stood up straight, stretching out her limbs. She had to admit, the dragon was right. She'd never felt so strong, so alive, so in tune with her own body. "I suppose I have you to thank for the opportunity. I want to know what comes next. I want to see the world outside this experiment. I'm ready, Tawnee."

"Yes you are, my dear little hero," Tawnee purred, smiling broadly. "Infinite possibilities await you. Perhaps you might even become strong enough to restore that which you lost?"

"I beg your pardon?" Spiru asked, confused. "You said all you could save was me, and it took nearly all you had."

"Of course, my friend, but I am just one dragon. With the power you have gained, with the power you could attain, you can become far more than me. Imagine, bringing your existence back from the nothingness Nozdormu cast it into..." Tawnee said, conjuring images of people and places around Spiru, at once familiar yet unknown. "My power could only save you. Your power could save all of them, if you're willing."

Spiru found herself reaching towards the images, but they were just out of her touch. "How...?" she asked in a whisper.

Tawnee had by this point manuvered herself behind Spiru, so the gnome couldn't see the cracks in the facade. "There are powers far beyond this world that you could obtain, Spiru. Powers that never wanted you gone in the first place. Powers that accept all truths."

Spiru lowered her hand, and closed her eyes. She exhaled slowly, centering herself. "As I suspected," she said, before launching herself backwards, flipping to gain height before kicking Tawnee straight in the jaw, dispelling the illusions and sending the visage into a nearby wooden pillar with a resounding crack! The dwarven woman, stumbled forward, clutching her head with one hand, eyeing Spiru through one open eye filled with rage.

"You? How dare you strike me? After all I've done for you!" she demanded in a rage, her skin shifting to reveal the black and blue scales of the infinite flight, her transformation beginning.

"Because the person who brought me back would have wanted me to. Wouldn't you agree, Eternus?"

"That I would, Spiru," Eternus's voice rang out, as her trollish hand clamped down on Tawnee's shoulder, interrupting her. Tawnee stumbled to her knees, as a pair of drakonid's emerged from portals, siezing her. "I'm sorry Tawnadormus, sorry I didn't see what was happening. Didn't see the void taking hold of you. But you're not going to be doing their bidding anymore."

Tawnee struggled a moment as the drakonid's gripped her, Eternus' magic preventing her from transforming. "But their power can fix everything we broke! Everything I broke! Spiru is proof of the concept!"

Spiru stepped forward. "I've seen enough of what the void does to know it's not worth the price. They used me to get you, and then they tried to use what I've lost to get me. We're nothing to them but means to an end, and I won't be manipulated, Tawnee. I told Eternus everything."

Tawnee's face fell. "But.... but I was promised...."

An hour later, Eternus and Spiru stood on one of the hills above Halfhill, cloaked from sight by Infinite magic. Eternus stretched out her wings, and growled. "So what am I to do with you, little impossible one?"

"Honestly, I've been thinking about that ever since I put this plan into motion, and I'm still unsure, if I'm being honest." Spiru replied, picking at the grass where she sat. "I discovered that Tawnee used void magic to restore me, but I still have so many unanswered questions about the dream I keep having. I suspect I represent a great deal of trouble."

"That you do, Spiru Handycog. However, I have learned in recent months that troublesome mortals are one of our world's greatest assets. Also, I do love a good rule bending. I've invited a... colleague, to join us."

"Colleague is a funny way to say bestest friend in the whole timeline, Eternus!" rang out a singsong, chipper voice, belonging to a golden haired, bright green eyed gnome emerging from a bronze portal. "So, where's this impossible girl you told me about? Oh!" the gnome exclaimed, running over and grabbing Spiru's hand as she rose, shaking it vigorously. "It must be you! Hello Spiru, my name is Chromie, and I hope we're going to be friends!"

"I... what?" was all Spiru could get out as her hand was shook very enthusiastically.

"Don't worry, my best friend told me all about what happened! Plucked from an erased timeline, given new form and then reinforced by threads of fate from this experiment, it's all so fascinating! And then you resisted the void temptation! All that plus the radiant song means that you, Spiru Handycog, are someone we want to keep around! er, that is, if you're willing of course."

Spiru's head swam, this woman seemed like she was having three conversations at once. "Who are you, and what's this song?"

"I already said, I'm Chromie! Chronormu of the Bronze Dragonflight if you want to be fussy and formal about it. It's a pleasure to meet you! And the radiant song, well, it's important, I know that. We're not supposed to share spoilers, but you're already a little unstuck so I don't think it'll matter. You are cleared to exist thanks to override from upper management, so to speak." Chromie beamed at Spiru, the smile shining from every corner of the gnome visage's face.

Spiru just tilted her head like a confused puppy. "You see, the radiant song, that's the dream you've been having. Certain people are having it a lot, and they're people that Azeroth, the world soul, is calling to. Oh, but keep that under your hat for now, at least until everyone figures it out at the appropriate time. And Azeroth is the source of Nozdormu's aspectral power, and thus now represents upper management, so if Azeroth is calling to you, that means that she wants you to exist, and well, even if you technically break a lot of rules by existing, it's nothing that can't be patched up good as new! So, as long as you consent, I'm ready to bring you into the prime timeline, and even know just the group of adventurers to introduce you to to get you started, you're going to -love- them!"

"So what do you say, Spiru." Eternus rumbled from above, still in her massive draconic form. "Are you ready to set aside doubt and experience the wonders and horrors that are yet to come? Because there will be both."

"And we want you to know you have a choice. If you want, we can send you back to, well, nothing, if you really want. Or we can bring you into the prime timeline and you can live whatever life you want; you don't -have- to be an adventurer, though I think you'll do great at it, if you really don't want to, you don't have to. You can be what and who you want. That's the most important thing of all!" Chromie continued, still holding Spiru's hand, emanating truth and trustworthiness.

Spiru looked down at her hands, wrapped in Chromie's as they were. The pain she had felt when she first touched people was still there, but less now. Chromie's hands were as warm as her demeanour. There was no deception, no subterfuge, just honestly frightening openness. It was an insane thing to choose. But she knew what she wanted.

"I'm ready. Take me to where I need to be."

Chromie's smile threatened to split her face. "Oh hooray! We just have a few things to handle on our end, cross a few t's, dot a few i's, resolve a few integers, beaureaucracy, you know. But when we meet again, I'll be taking you to meet some new friends, they're going to be important, and they're going to be very happy for your help!"

"Alright... who are these friends?"

"They're called the Meddlers, and they're some of the finest adventurers and champions on the whole planet!"

"That is a very silly name for adventurers." Spiru scoffed.