(Emerald Hive - Birthing Chamber)
Suddenly, I woke up.
It wasn't like the kind of waking up you might imagine, no. It felt like I was surrounded by voices, and that THAT woke me up. If you've ever been in a school cafeteria, you have a slight idea of what this was like.
As this sensation grew stronger, I felt like I was connected to hundreds of kin; brothers, sisters, distant relatives, close cousins, black sheep and white. But I sensed a void where my great great great grandmmother's sister's aunt's cousin's daughter. When I got the chance, i'd have to ask.
But first, i'd have to get out of this situation.
I was stuck in a green case filled with fluid. Looking around, I realized, 'This is an egg!'
I started struggling, the liquid inside was thick, and I couldn't move very well. My arms and legs seemed to be stuck.
Eventually I managed to get out of there, inly to be caught by a blue form.
"Eeeeasy there, little one. You can't even stand yet, much less walk. Let's see about that. You're the first new grub up today. Surprising."
I would have asked why this was surprising, but, oh yeah. I couldn't.
Well, anyway, this nice character took me to a large chamber, which I could feel energy flowing throughout. In the center of the room was a large pink crystalline structure. My amazement must have showed, because the one ferrying me said, "Crystallizec love energy. Wondrous, isn't it?" He took a moment to take in a snootful the residual energy before sighing. "We have more love now than we ever did while under Ch- uh... the previous ruler's dominion. Let's get you evolved." he finished.
Bringing me down to the pink crystals, he said, "Now: eat. Just open that little mouth of yours and draw in that energy you feel there. Brace yourself, though. It's never as sweet as the first time."
Doing as instructed, i closed my eyes (for lack of a better term) and faced the first energy source i noticed.
"Wrong way, newbie."
Oops! Apparently the first energy source was the one who had carried me along! Retry!
Facing the other energy source I sensed, i opened my mouth....
And was nearly lost in the wake of the sensations that crashed into me!
I could feel that this Love enrgy was freely given. Shared hundreds of times; that's how the crystal sructure had grown so large! It was the Love of family, and of friends. Simultaneously from the skies above and the earth below.
I started to drink my fill, feeling myself changing as i did so. As i nearly started to overflow, i directed some tooo my ferrier, much to their surprise.
Soon enough, it stopped. I stopeed. For a mmoment, the world stopped!
It was only a few seconds. An eternity of a few seconds.
But then, I truly felt Aware. I felt far different from my base form.
The other one stood nearby. "Ah. And here you are. Now that you can respond, I am Tourmaline. Consider me to be your aunt, for the time being. As you can see, we Changelngsfeed on Love, and can use that to evolve in different ways."
"Like the Zerg?" I queried, immediately afterward regretting my mistake.
"What's a Zerg?" she asked.
Unbidden to me, images from a past life csme flooding through the Link that we all shared.
My relative jumped back slightly. "What in the-?! What was THAT?!"
I lowered my head. "I guess the secret's out. I'm not originally from this world. I'm... not really what you might think I am. I'm just-"
My self-deprecation was cut off. "Listen, kid. Do you look like a Changeling?"
I looked at myself briefly. Green. insectoid wings. Horn. "Yes?"
"Do you sound like a Changeling?"
"Yeeees?" i queried, not getting the point.
"Do you absorb Love like a Changeling?"
"As far as I can tell."
"Then whatever you were before, you're a Changeling now. And if you have memories and information from a past life, so much the better." she finished. "But you lack something that we have: a name."
"My name?"
Immediately, a screen popped up.
Name: Garett
Tourmaline raised what would equate to an eyebrow. "Perhaps I spoke too soon."
She tapped on the floating sign ang some flavour text appeared.
People wth this name have a deep inner desire for a stable loving family or community, and a need to work with others and be appreciated.
People with this name are competent, practicaal, and often obtain greatpower or wealth. They tend to be successful in business and commercial affairs, and are able to achieve great material dreams..
Tourmaline nodded in approval. "Garett it is. A decent name. Come. You have much to learn." So saying, Tourmaline lowered herself to the floor, encouraging me to climb up..
I did so with surprising ease. After i got a secure spot, she proceeded to move. "Alright, Garett, I think i'll give you the guided tour. Now, to our right......"