Chapter 1
The first time she did it, she was a larvae. She didn't know she was doing it, couldn't know. She was hovering on the thin edge between consciousness and a void. True awareness would come later, but for now, she just...was.
She wasn't abandoned, as Ego would later tell her. She knew that much.
There was two beings, so much bigger than her. They were such bright sparks, every touch filled with love and warmth. They held her, fed her, kept her filled with a feeling she would later identify as safe.
Soon, she started to comprehend this thing called words. They were not as simple as feelings, but they, too, held meanings.
The calmer spark called itself her Dada. Safety-bringer, comfort-giver, protector. The faster spark, the one that spun and darted, called itself her Mami. Life-giver, caretaker. And she? Her name was... Mantis.
It was good. Life was kind. Mantis was...happy. But...
It was gone all too fast. There was another being who was bright, but this one burned. A being who was far greater than what he appeared, who was there, but not there. Where her Mami and Dada were sparks, this one was a raging inferno.
The two sparks were afraid. It was night, but the very sky was on fire, filled with the light that the Inferno brought. They were fleeing before that fearsome light. They feared and Mantis could feel that fear.
The ground was rushing, moving quickly, but still the inferno followed. It was too fast. They could not escape. Mantis could feel others, so many others, but one by one, they were swallowed by the Inferno, and she could no longer feel them. Dozens... then a mere dozen... then five... three...two... one. Then, they were all gone.
It was just Mantis and Mami and Dada.
Dada was slowing down. Then, Dada stopped and turned. "Go! I'll hold him off!"
Mami was crying. "No, Tabis! You can't."
"Go. You must save her," Dada said quietly, gently.
No. She didn't want to leave Dada.
Mami was running again. They were leaving Dada. She could feel his spark growing farther and farther away, but he was still there. He was still bright. And then...
Nothing.
His spark wasn't there anymore.
Dada was gone.
Mami stopped. She was crying, wailing. She was going back.
No. No!
Mantis didn't want to lose Mami too.
Go, Mantis said, with her head. Go! Mantis pushed her little head against Mami. She didn't want to get closer to the Inferno.
Mami was running now. It was okay, though. This time, she was running away from the Inferno. But...
It was too fast. It was coming closer. She could feel Mami and Mami was tired.
It was here. The Inferno.
"Manta," it was saying. "Fancy meeting you here."
"You shall not have her, Ego," Mami said, pressing Mantis closer. "Leave. You will not take her away!" She was backing away from that light, the terrible inferno.
"She's mine, though," the Inferno - Ego - said slowly, calmly. "Have sense, my lady-love. Your species are a patriarchy, are they not? The child belongs to me." Ego was coming closer. His hand was up, reaching, reaching. Mantis didn't want him.
"I am neither your lady, nor your love!" Mami said loudly. Her voice was a fearsome thing. "And what more is that neither I nor Mantis are yours." She lifted her chin up.
Mantis began crying. She wanted to go home. She didn't want the Inferno here. She wanted her Dada.
"Look, Manta, you're scaring her," Ego said. Ego was wrong. She wasn't scared of Mami. Mantis was scared of Ego. He was closer now. "Hey, little guy, is your name Mantis? What a cute little name. I'm your daddy. Want to come home with me?" No, Mantis didn't want him near her.
"Sleep," Mami said. Her hand was on Ego's head. "Sleep!"
Ego was sleeping.
Mami was running.
Mami, was running, but not away from the Inferno. Where was the Inferno? They had to get away, but the Inferno was gone, so why were they running? Why w-
"My dear Manta, did you really think you could get away from me?"
He was in front of them.
He burned.
Mami's spark was dim now. Mantis was in Ego's arms and she could not remember how she got there. Where was Mami? Ego was walking away, and Mantis could not see Mami. Mantis was growing higher and higher, right in front of Ego now. The Inferno was looking at her. A hand touching her head. The emotions he held rushed through her.
Hope... Disappointment.
"Pity. With the way they were... protecting... you, one would think you held some sort of promise. Not a drop of celestial in you."
The hand fell away, only to fall upon Mantis's neck.
Danger. The fingers slowly tightened.
Mantis knew that something was wrong. She might have a spark too, and the Inferno might make it disappear, like it did to Mami and Dada.
Sleep, Mantis begged, remembering how quiet and peaceful sleep was. SLEEP, Mantis demanded, remembering how he left Mami alone for a bit after she told him to sleep.
The light that burned was now dim, just a normal spark now. Ego was falling, but so was Mantis. Mantis hit the ground. It hurt. She hurt everywhere.
Where was Mami?
Mantis had no legs. She could not walk, could not run away to Mami. Mantis had no arms. She could not crawl, drag herself away from the terrible, terrible light, the light that was growing hotter already. It was too bright now! It burned! It burned-
Hands on her, hands that burned, yet underneath the fire... froze. Icy. There was nothing there, nothing that could-
"Well," Ego said. He was looking at her. "It seems you have your mother's talent of pushing your emotions on others. Perhaps you aren't so useless after all. I may just keep you." He reached out and tapped Mantis on the nose.
Mantis cried.
And the Inferno swept Mantis away.