"...elp me!"

The world inverted.

Fru's lips parted in surprise, as she landed forward on the air, her leg flexed backward and upward, her hands extended forward as her screams were snatched from her lips. A gasp she didn't recognize slipped out her mouth at the bizarre event unfolding before her eyes.

"I need to wake up" She muttered to herself "right now".

Slapping hard on her cheek, her vision hazed before coming back to focus on her environment; green fire and black smoke swirled around the sky cleft in two. And at the center of it all, standing against a horde of faceless dragons, was a woman. Her features stunningly similar to the female lead's descriptions in the book she had just read.

Valia.

She turned gently as if feeling another presence there with her. Her ocean eyes locked onto Fru, as a soft smile danced on her face as if expecting her.

" Fru "

Her black hair spilled like a storm, its green edges flickering like venomous flames.

More beautiful, more terrible than words could hold.

Time stopped.

And then Fru hit the ground, gasping, the taste of ash and iron thick in her mouth. The book was gone. Only the Valia remained, her gaze sharp enough to pierce through skin and bone.

“Welcome,” Valia said, her voice laced with both familiarity and threat. It caressed Fru’s ear, yet set her blood thrumming with fear. “You’ve crossed into my fate.”

The world around them roared alive. Phoenix fire streaked the heavens, wolves howled in distant woods, the hiss of serpents slithered beneath the soil. A realm of untamed myths. Raw and dangerous.

Fru staggered to her feet, sword no longer in hand. Her head whipped from side to side, confirming she was no longer in her world.

She watched as Valia walked towards her, each step a move with practiced grace. Her hand rose. Elegant and deadly. Long claws glimmered faintly at the tips of her fingers. She reached as if to touch Fru’s face. Fru flinched back, her hand lifting like a blade in reflex, but Valia only tilted her head, studying the defiance in her eyes.

“Good,” Valia whispered with a thick dragonian accent. “You have steel. You will need it here.”

“Where am I?” Fru demanded, voice low but firm, staring into those ocean eyes.

Valia’s smile was razor-thin. “In the story you chose. In the tragedy you could not resist. Welcome to the end of the world where gods made monsters…and then abandoned them.”

“Huh?” Fru arched her brows. “What has that to do with me? I only read your tale, but I definitely didn't remember volunteering to fall into it.”

Silence fell, sharp as a sword’s edge. Valia blinked once, twice. Clearly unaccustomed to mortals with opinions.

“I heard your struggles. Felt them,” She said at last. “I am going to die here, but I will sacrifice my powers to turn back time and destroy my enemies. The price is my soul." She paused, a sad look briefly crossing her features beferoe she continued

"I have decided to send you back in my stead, to carry out vengeance in my place. I will not abandon you, of course, my powers will be with you and I will watch over your actions.”

It was Fru’s turn to blink...slowly. “Let me see if I'm understanding this right. So, you mean to die... and trouble the living...who is infact me. A stranger. With your unfinished quarrels?.”

Valia’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“And where is my say in all of this?” Fru pressed, folding her arms with the ease of a soldier questioning orders she’d rather not obey.

“Oh." Valia's hand moved with elegance to briefly cover her lips as if surprised "I had forgotten to mention. You have none,” She said simply, her gaze focused and unblinking as her hand lowered to her side.

Fru let out a dry laugh. “Ha! Of course I don’t. Why am I not surprised.”

Valia ignored her. “You wished for another life. I answered,” her voice soft but cold continued. “Now you are who I once was." She tilted her head at Fru as if taken aback at her lack of understanding.

Well, news flash dragon woman. I understand you very well, I'm just waiting for you to take back those words of insanity, not repeat them to my face. Fru thought flatly.

"I’ll send you back to my childhood, since my powers can reach no farther in this form and you would live a life you've never been privileged to have.” she concluded in that regal pitch that spoke more audacity than her words.

Fru forehead crinkled in agitation as she took a step closer. “Okay, let me voice out this ridiculous proposal once more, your royal highness" she stated dryly as she continued "your world burns, you perish, so I must wear your face and finish your vengeance?" Fru’s voice jumped a tone, exasperation darkening her features, as she slammed the edge of her right hand against her open left palm. "A fine bargain indeed. Truly generous of you.”

“You mock what you do not understand,” Valia replied coolly.

“I mock what threatens to ruin my peace,” Fru retorted. “I’ve battled bandits, faced plague, and once outran an ogre, but never did I imagine being punished for reading out of curiosity or for thinking, “Hey, I’m fatigued, I need a change.” Everyone does that! It doesn't mean they are ready to give up!" Fru could feel her blood pressure spike as her pulse thrummed hard against her throat.

Valia’s lips curved faintly, her eyes melting softly, a sight Fru definitely didn't enjoy seeing. “We are of the same frequency dear Fru. Your courage mirrors mine, I can feel it and fate can too.”

“Dear? Courage?” Fru gave a grim chuckle. “You would certainly not do something like this to whom you love and if courage means standing before a mad disowned dragon and pretending not to tremble, then yes, I am overflowing with it.”

“Time is up,” Valia stated, glancing upwards, as the sky began to crack. The ground rumbling strongly, threatening to tear apart. “You must go now.” Emerald light began to glow at her fingertip.

“Wait!” Fru’s voice sharpened. “I know nothing of this world. It's laws or its beasts! I had not even finished your tale. How do you expect me to survive, let alone avenge you? What about my friend? The family I made??” Fru beat her chest in frustration as her eyes roamed Valia's determined face.

She was not listening. She didn't care about the woes of a mortal whose everyday life seemed pathetic. Fru's chest tightened at the thought.

“Be who you are, not who I was,” Valia said softly. “You’re stronger than anything, my dear Fru. Stronger than anyone. I discovered that too late. That’s why I fell. I’m sorry. Please forgive me…and help me.”

Oh by the gods. This crazy dragoness!

Her plea faded as the emerald light engulfed Fru. The last thing she saw was Valia’s face, twisted in pain, burned into memory as she was hurled into the past.