Authors: Stana/Kit
Date 5/10
Title Chaos comes in the form of....
****
I knew you'd come!"

Of all the things Stana had been expecting, this was the last one she had been ready for. 
Or so she told herself as she felt the words wrapping up around her spine. The lilting, 
childish voice so at odds with the dreariness around them.

Clip had not moved, and she took some comfort in that fact as she turned slowly to face 
the skipping tread that had suddenly materialized out of the sound dampened dregs of 
mush underfoot.

Into sight came Ramdek, pale eyes taking the three of them in with eagerness. The nubs 
on his head shimmered with sort of opalescence that was out of place here. 
"I've been waiting" he said with simple petulance. 

"Ramdek." Stana said, forcing a smile onto her face. "Did you bring us here?"

"I didn't need to." he answered. "Why haven't you visited sooner?" 

"You know this child?" Neither Clip nor Stana heard the hesitation in the Elementals' 
voice. Audion frowned slightly, a mere twitch of the lips, as he continued to study 
the figure before them. Something was familiar, as if it pertained to another place 
and time that he could not hope to grasp. 

*We have met * Clip allowed. * Were the visions just shown us now real? * 

"As real as you are." he responded, still looking to Stana for an answer. 

"Ramdek, we talked about this the last time we met. I didn't want to be here anymore." 
The grin she had on her face was beginning to hurt. Every instinct she had was screaming 
in a panic. If what they saw was real...then Lyr was in danger...and that girl was dead. 
And they were truly in the Nachtmer. ::Trapped, like before...only this time it's with 
Clip and Audion...and oh Teri...where are you????::

<Why were we shown the Ribbon, child?>, Audion hissed in Freylian through clenched teeth. 
Descriptions from moldy texts were coming to the forefront of his memory, and the 
sensations that were described therein matched what he sensed now all too well for his 
own comfort. 

"All the elements, gone." Ramdek said serenely, apparently either not hearing or choosing 
to disregard the question. "You should be happy, you weren't the first this time."

"What-?" Stana asked abruptly.

* Gone? * Clip echoed. * What speak you, child? * 

"We-knew something happened to the Water element...to Emily..." Stana said, looking uncertain. 
"Are you saying that a similar fate has fallen on the others?"

Ramdek shrugged "Earth, Water, Fire...out of three, only one has remained constant."

* There is no death * Clip answered *is that what you imply? * 

"Is that what you hear?" the child answered. 

"Ramdek, please-"

"You left me." He accused her. "You left me here, while you went away. 
Didn't I tell you that the Chaos bringer awakened? Why did you leave me here alone?"

Audion scowled at the child's scolding, his eyes flashing brightly as all his muscles 
tensed in readiness. He moved quickly and quietly closer to Stana while everyone was 
focused on Ramdek. If his training was not false, then she would need more then he and 
Clip very soon. 

"I couldn't take you with us." She answered, trying to hold her voice calm. "I didn't 
know how to..."

"You didn't try!"

"You say that Chaos is awakened?" Audion interrupted. 

"Not long ago, when the papers of prophecy were ripped asunder, the bonds that sealed 
the One were loosened. He wakens. He has wakened. He will waken."

"Riddles." Stana muttered.

* He has not fully achieved consciousness * Clip asserted *else we would not stand 
here speaking of it. *

"Soon, one-horn." Ramdek taunted. "Then all will be consumed." his gaze flickered to 
Stana "but you weren't the first this time." 

"What do you know of the others?" Audion sneered, his voice tainted with blatant 
disdain. "What has happened to them?" 

"Lalala...la" he sang gaily, pointing to the ground. "The boundaries of the Nachtmer 
and Narada erode as sleeping Chaos stirs. Water has been vanquished, and fire subdued. 
Earth remains in her tainted state, and will fall ere long."

* There are other Elements you miss. * Clip pointed out. 

"None fully realized." Ramdek shrugged "before they emerge, three of them will be gone. 
The prophecy has been defeated before it could come to pass." 

He was rambling, leading them off topics than they had asked. Children did that. 
They played games, saying other than what asked. Adults too, but this child 
especially... Stana ripped her mind from its hysterical depths, tried to breath 
calmly. ::Teri's ok.:: she assured herself tentatively. ::I'd know if something...I mean, 
I knew when something happened to Estela... I-::she rubbed her eyes angrily at the itch. 
::Dammit not now! I need to think!:: 

"Why are you here?" she found herself asking. 

"Spirit of the first" he sang merrily "Spirit of that which holds all together, 
Spirit of the world, last time Chaos killed thousands of your kind...this time, 
the number will be limitless." 

Spirit of the world...? Clip? She looked to the Unicorn where he glared balefully 
at the other, Alicorn flashing. 

* It will not happen * he asserted.

"Chaos is not all that slumbers, the Keeper too, dreams." he chanted. 
"What can you do to stop it?"

"Ramdek, why are you saying all this?" Stana asked. "Why are you trying 
to anger us?"

"Because it amuses me" he said. "Because Chaos likes to see life despair 
and flail before its destruction."

Clip's eyes widened as Stana took a step back. 

* He did not differentiate himself from Chaos... * the Unicorn began. 

"Meaning," Audion finished, stepping fully next to Stana 
"That this "child" is a manifestation of the spirit of destruction."