Imagine Dragons (updating so slowly that it's ridiculous)

Jambonik

Clouds are so weird to walk on, honestly. I know in that stupid dream I liked to imagine walking on them, but it isn't that great. It's what's in the clouds that makes them great - the mermaids. Well, some of them are great. I don't like the scary ones.

I am led down hall after hall (if you can call the paths "halls"). I wonder where they could be taking me? Yamilonian is so excited about having me that she chatters on and on, but I am not paying enough attention to know what about. Something about the "sacred rituals" and the "becoming a mermaid." I have to vow something or other? I don't know. Ugh, I should be paying attention.

"And oh, Halorinia is so frustrating sometimes. I don't know why she's always angry! Yelling at guests without giving them a chance! How rude." She makes a tutting sound, smiling at me. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you get a chance."

"I, uh, don't know what to say! Thank you. You're being quite kind about this in comparison to some of the others. They weren't very happy to see me."

She flaps a hand at me, waving off my thanks. Her cheeks flush lavender, which I assume is blushing. "No, no, it's nothing. This world is full of angry things!" She throws her head back and lets out a hissing spasm. I know this to be laughing, but still, I flinch away. That is not a pleasant sound. Trying to seem charmed, I laugh too, quieter.

"Oh, here we are!" Yamilonian spins to face a room, gesturing grandly. It looks rather like an igloo from my dream; it is the only covered thing I have seen since I arrived here. Inside is a single cloud chair, facing away from us.

I frown in confusion. "What am I meant to do with it? Is the trial to sit? I think I can sit pretty well. One of my many talents." I decide to just let it go if the entire trial is sitting. I'm not going to complain about finally being able to do something easily here.

She cackles, and I jump a little at the staticky sound. "Yes, you sit. You sit and you watch and if you look away, you lose. It's simple. Ready to try?"

Is there a catch? I'm feeling a catch. It's not like there's any other way for me to get to the next stage, so I guess I'd be here no matter what.

"Yeah, sure." I step out into the room. Immediately, I regret agreeing so easily to do this. The lights look different from inside. Everything visible from the opening is bathed in a sunshine-tinted light, but once inside, I can see the shifting, angry colors of the shadows. They change and shift where Yamilonian at the door can't see it. I shiver, but walk to the chair. Why is it facing away from the door? Are there spikes in it, is it lined with poison?

I reach the other side of the chair, and while it looks like a normal chair (as normal as it can when it's made of clouds, I guess), it is the center of shadows. They double up in the seat because of the back and armrests. What happens if I touch it?

I don't have a choice. I swing into it, trying to get it over with quickly.

Surprisingly, nothing happens. Zip. Nada. None. I wasn't in a chair and now I am in a chair. That is literally it.

Huh. So the shadows were just me! I glance down - just to double-check that I'm still here, I guess - and I let out a whimper. The shadows have wrapped themselves around me, chaining me to the chair. I can't feel them there, but when I try to move, nothing happens. I'm trapped.

What kind of test is this!? Sit chained to a chair for a long period of time? What kind of test is that? A plant could pass this.

My attention snaps up as images begin dancing across the wall. It doesn't look in focus, and the clouds aren't flat, so I can't quite make it out, but it's getting closer to me, I feel. The image, not the wall. How is that possible?

Suddenly, the image pops into focus. My eyes snap shut, but I still see the mermaid's body, flung across the ground, bleeding a deep, deep blue, matching her tail. I shudder madly, straining against the restraints I can't feel. I don't want to watch!

A beautiful, pale woman with deep red hair steps into my line of sight. A diamond crown sits on top of a dramatic updo, looking sharp and untamed. She simply smiles down at the body, a cruel laugh emerging from her lips. "Oh, dearie, aren't you just the cutest!" She leans in, petting the navy hair away from her face. "I bet your sisters are going to find out that you're missing soon. They'll be oh so worried, won't they!" Another laugh. I don't want to watch. I don't want to watch.

The Queen - for that is clearly who the red woman is - presses her fingers against the mermaid's neck and gasps with dramatic surprise. "Oh, but you're still alive!" Deep red lips curl up into a smile, exposing bright white teeth. Aren't villains supposed to have bad teeth? It's practically part of the job description in that stupid dream I had!

"This makes things different. Oh, yes. I have the winning hand!" She smiled, spinning and letting her skirt flare out. "Oh, this will be perfect. These poor creatures think that they like the chaos! They need my peace. I will bring it to them! They will submit to the powers of calm and moral. No matter that the transition will neither be calm or moral." She cackles, throwing her head back and making the first imperfect expression I've seen since she's stepped into the scene. "Oh, I'll be a queen! No, I don't quite like that enough - I'll be THE Queen, with a capital Q! The one and only! They will speak my name for years to come and worship my very feet! This horrid Wonderland needs a ruler. It needs its peace. I will GIVE IT!"

The shot spirals away dramatically, watching from above as she lets out a caw of victory. The image fades away.

I snap my eyes open, gasping. What is this test? I sit here and get tortured?

Yamilonian calls to me from the doorway. "Around now is when the show stops for intermission. It's a jambonik, kind of like a recording of something that already happened. This is the Queen's takeover. Do you need to use the bathroom or anything? And how did you like how it panned away at the end - very cool, I thought."

I shake in the chair, trying not to cry. "Very nice!" My voice doesn't come out half as steady as I want it to. "You said this is intermission - how much longer does this go on, exactly?"

Yamilonian lets out a snort. "Like I should know! The other two segments are longer, but I don't know how much. I do hope you enjoy! Do you need some water?"

"Uh, no," I say, after shaking my head and then realizing she can't see my face. "I'm good until the next one starts."

"Oh, if you don't need anything I can speed this ahead! It will play now. Thanks, I have more to do today!" I gasp, shaking my head. No, I can't go back in again yet, I can't handle that, I needed that break -

The wall in front of me lights up and begins moving in.