*poke*

Hey Night, have you decided on an ending date yet now that Spring Fest is over?

not yet but weren't you working on your story too?

Yep, I was just wondering.

Hey Night, this is really random, but how do you pronounce Caedes?

can't wait to see yours

Aw, thanks! Though just a warning, it probably won't be that long. It'll also be lacking a definite plot. And thanks for the pronunciation!

you're welcome

Woohoo! Finally done!





Caedes was restless. Stripped from her corporeal form, her ghostly spirit was relegated to more passive tasks than usual, like reflecting on past actions. And it was getting very tiresome.

'I don't regret it,' she thought, not for the first time that day. 'And I was so close.' With a morbid longing, she recalled the panic, the fear, the hopelessness. Suddenly, a new thought struck her. 'Triumph... glory... power... all could have been mine. But why?' At once, she was jolted into a long-forgotten memory.



They had just finished another successful nightly hunt. She grinned, a wicked turning up of the corners of her mouth. The Judge gave her a somewhat bemused look, but stayed silent, waiting for an explanation.

"That hunt reminded me of what's to come," Caedes' three able eyes sparked with an eager maliciousness. She knew Judge knew what she was referring to.

"Your takeover," the Judge flatly said. It was not a question. Caedes glanced over, and, for a split second, felt a twinge of doubt.

'Does he- does he not like it?' she thought. There was no sign of disapproval in his eyes, but Caedes still felt a strange uneasiness. She ignored the feeling and went on.

"I will finally have all I need," she elaborated with an evil smile, "Triumph... glory... power..."

He merely said in reply, "Why?" Silence. Her smile fell. The question, one simple word, left her in shock.

'Why... why... why...' The word reverberated throughout her mind. She shook her head rapidly, trying to clear it. "Why not?" she finally replied, though the excuse sounded hollow even to her own ears. Judge said no more about the topic, but Caedes had a sneaking suspicion what his opinion on it was.

Later that night, or rather, day (as it was past midnight), Caedes mentioned her plan to overthrow the other Elder Ancients to her "sister" again. Not for the first time, Zaphara timidly voiced her opposition.

"Why, Caedes? Why are you so desperate for this?"

Caedes was outraged. First Judge, now Zaphara. How dare they question her motives? She glared up at her "sister".

"Zaphara, what I choose to do is none of your business whatsoever. Is that understood?"

Her "sister" cowered in fear. "Y-yes Caedes. I understand."

"Good," Caedes gave a cold, unfeeling smile, "I don't need you, or anyone else, telling me what, or what not, to do."

Zaphara slunk away, leaving Caedes alone with her thoughts.


Caedes was brought back to the present. 'I guess Judge felt the same way as Zaphara,' she realized, remembering when he sentenced her to the weak, useless being she was trapped as now. 'They were right after all,' she reflected. Then Caedes thought angrily, 'As if! I was right, and I would gladly try again if I had the chance. They are nothing more than foolish, pathetic beings beneath my level and undeserving of my thoughts.' And with that last mental declaration, Caedes turned her mind to other thoughts.





Done! And Night, even if I don't win (a very likely outcome), thank you so much for hosting this contest; it definitely helped me become a better writer, and I appreciate it a lot!