SNT: Shattered Dimensions

Her Last Request Part 1

Author's note: This chapter was split into two parts as it was reaching the same length as Shadow Stars.

The world appeared to disappear between the two as they dashed towards one another. Both Maria and Merlina thrusted both of their attacks forward; one throwing a punch while the other a sharp staff. Alas, Merlina's weapon proved to have the longer reach and impaled the blonde hedgehog's abdomen. Maria's body was lifted off the ground as blood leaked from the wound and flowed down her dark blue tops.

"Forgive me, but you left me no choice. I must do what I can to preserve this world, so please do not take this personally," Merlina explained. Her eyes dropped to the shallow waters, noticing the drops of crimson spread out into obscurity. Finally, she managed to get some progress. A slight chuckle returned her attention to the blonde hedgehog.

"There you go again, wanting to preserve something you loved..." Maria pointed out with a smile on her face. Merlina's eyes widened upon the victim's visage suddenly glitch. What's more, a familiar distorted sound caught her ear.

"Maria!" A familiar voice called out. The wicked witch turned her head to the source only to find Shade the echidna checking on Nimue.

"Shade? You're back!" Nimue acclaimed with an unusual sense of familiarity. Confusion plagued Merlina's mind like a virus. How was it possible for Shade to return from the wormhole so quickly? It didn't make any sense. Then suddenly, everything flashed a bright red.

What-what's going on? The witch wondered while shielding her eyes. When the light that gave the world color and visibility returned, Merlina found a hard time believing what she had just witnessed.

"Maria, thank goodness we made it on time!" SNT spoke, awake and active. What was worse, Maria had seemingly taken the forest guardian's place of being chained to the ground by ethereal bindings.

"Figured it out yet, my child?" Said a voice so familiar to Merlina that she first thought of it to be a trick. Merlina slowly turned her head, realizing that if Maria took Nimue's place then that could mean one thing.

"You never could realize when you lost," the real Nimue claimed with a big grin on her weakened face. The forest guardian revealed a shard of the crimson gem in her hands.

Chapter 10:

Her Last Request

A long time ago...

The view of a mountain range over the horizon blessed the clear blue waters of a lake. The marvel of nature granted the lake permission to reflect the outside world. Frogs and toads croaked on their small lily pads, awaiting the arrival of their meal.

"Once upon a time, there was a kind and gentle spirit named Kurushimi. She was friends with quite a diverse group that accepted and loved her," read Nimue who sat within her lake top pavilion. A young girl sat on her lap and read the words of a fairy tale alongside her guardian. Her long purple hair waved voluptuously with the wind as she listened intently to her guardian's words.

"They were like a family, never truly wanting to be away from one another. However, an evil tyrant caused a war that separated the group far away from one another," The lady of the lake continued to read. The young girl looked down as she heard that one horrible word, 'war.' The mere thought of it terrified her, so many lives wasted on a pointless conflict. Nimue noticed the girl's concern and gently patted her head. She looked up at her guardian for only a split second before returning to the fairy tale.