The Farthest Shot: An Expanded Chromaia One-Shot

Synopsis: Set during the epilogue of The Icon Awakens, Zed begins making preparations to return to his cottage in Silvertooth, though struggles to comprehend a series of abstract visions along the way.

Each flash is accompanied by a never-before-seen moment that takes place during the events of the prequel webseries trilogy, Origin of Zed, revealing two key defining moments that coalesce into these retrocognitive images.

The third vision, meanwhile, is of an event yet to occur in Zed’s story, with an even more bizarre connection that extends beyond the scenes prior…

***

My name is Zander Starmute, but many call me Zed for short…

The scene cuts to a view of Zed standing before the other Crystalbound, Kendall, Gazzo, Tamamaki, Trent, Kara, Sara, and a bound and gagged Brent.

For a time, I was the wearer of the Azure Crystal, though recent events have led to a new calling…

Zed approaches Kendall, lifting the Azure Crystal from around his own neck and placing it carefully around Kendall’s, with a familiar pulse of cyan light briefly filling the immediate vicinity as Zed smiles.

Zed: It suits you, Kenny.

Kendall laughs.

Kendall: I think it looks better on you.

Zed: Nonsense. I couldn’t think of anyone more worthy as my successor, Mr. Silvertooth.

Kendall smiles as a tear rolls down his cheek.

Brocc: Wait… you’re not coming back with us?!

Zed shakes his head.

Zed: I have some… processing to do. A lot’s happened all at once.

Amethyst: Of that I have no doubt, Cher Apprenti.

Bryn: He ain’t your apprentice anymore, Ammy.

Amethyst shakes her head with a bemused smile.

Amethyst: Be that as it may, One must not simply discount three months of tutelage as a mere formality.

Bryn: Oh, come on! You heard what Blondy said about ‘im!

Brocc: He has a name, y’know, Crumpet-butt!

Mak laughs out loud.

Bryn: Yeah, but… is it his real name, Cheesehead?

Zed’s irises flash with cyan light.

Brocc: Well, sure. Why wouldn’t it be?

Bryn: It’s just that-

The scene zooms into Zed’s mind as three images begin to swirl in what appears to be a deep, murky ocean: a seahorse of cyan, fuchsia, and yellow scales; a mermaid-like figure with humanoid limbs instead of a fishtail; and a tadpole partly metamorphosed into a frog, and surrounded by a shadowy aura.

Zed’s voice: This is new…

A silver pendulum suddenly swings into view, stirring the surrounding waters into a jet-stream of bubbles as the scene shifts into a forgotten memory.

***

The bubbles clear to reveal Zed in attire like that of our world. He is sitting in what resembles a University lecture hall, with Erik standing at the front as he demonstrates vocal technique.

Erik: The trick is to deepen the voice and enunciate sharply for this style of portrayal to carry.

A female student raises her hand and speaks with an Australian accent.

Student #1: I’d like to hear the new guy try it out.

Zed looks at the student with a raised eyebrow.

Zed: You really want to hear this preteen-ish voice try to sound masculine?

Erik: An excellent idea, Jenny. Zander, if you would?

Zed: Uh… are you sure, Dr. Hollows?

Erik smiles.

Erik: Absolutely. Come on down.

Zed: Well… aight, here goes everything…

The other students clap and cheer as Zed stands and approaches Erik.

Erik: Now, let’s try a bit of group improvisation, shall we?

A male student speaks with an American accent.

Student #2: The arcade!

Erik points at the student.

Erik: Excellent! Now who’d like to pitch a scenario?

Jenny: VR co-op session!

Erik nods at Jenny.

Erik: Imaginative. And now for a-

Student #3: PvP!

Jenny looks at the third student.

Jenny: That’s an oxymoron!

Student #3: What is?

Student #2: PvP co-op, obviously.

Student #3: How’s that obvious, Tad?

Jenny: One’s working together for victory, the other’s sparring to see who wins.

Student #3: R-Right…

Zed: I can make it work… somehow.

Jenny: Then break a leg.

Zed smirks as Erik clears his throat.

Erik: Player-versus-Player, during a cooperative virtual reality session, in the arcade.

The third student speaks with a forced Cockney English accent.

Student #3: It was Admiral Hollandaise wot dunnit!

Jenny scrunches a sheet of A4 paper and throws it at the student, who flinches with an intense laugh. Jenny smirks as she looks back at Zed.

Erik: Take it away, Zander.

Zed: Uh…

Zed clears his throat and begins to speak.

Zed: By the highest canopies of Midiora, I challenge you to-

***

The scene zooms out of Zed’s mind as he snaps back to reality.

Bryn: -trust anyone who calls himself a Hippopotamus!

Brocc: Hippocamp, Bryn!

Bryn: Well, now that you mention it… I s’pose Erik is a little camp.

Mak: Heh. Not as camp as Ol’ Brentonios over there.

Brent reacts with a mix of shock, confusion, and seething rage as he screams an incomprehensible rant through the gag tied between his teeth.

Bryn: Yeesh, he has issues, doesn’t he?

Brent chomps so hard that his teeth cut through the gag.

Brent: -hole is never sufficiently wiped, is it?! And another thing-

Sara bonks Brent on the back of his head, knocking him out cold.

Sara: And everyone thinks I’m not unliterate…

Everyone laughs as Zed’s eyes flash cyan once more.

Zed: Whoa… another one…

The scene zooms into Zed’s mind as an image of two dragons, one gold and one silver, swoops into view. The two dragons fly toward one another, merging in a flash of electrum-infused light that fills the view.

***

The light fades to a view of Zed standing on the deck of a mighty airship as it crests the surface of a vast cloudbank, with wisps of billowy white churning along its sides like waves lapping against a vessel at sea.

Voice: Zed?

A gold-scaled humanoid dragon in sturdy armour approaches Zed as he stares at the distant, pink-tinged horizon. She speaks with an American accent.

Zed: In another few hours, the sun will set.

The dragon smiles.

Dragon: As it does every evening.

Zed: Then… why do I recall so few of them?

The dragon gently places her hand on Zed’s shoulder.

Dragon: Just because you don’t remember past sunsets, doesn’t mean they didn’t happen, right?

Zed snickers with a touch of sorrow.

Zed: It’s easy for you to say. I mean you remember your whole life, right? You even know your name. Your whole name, not just the first letter.

The dragon laughs out loud.

Dragon: If it cheers you up, then just call me “O,” m’kay?

Zed closes his eyes and shakes his head before looking at the dragon.

Zed: It isn’t about that, Ocre. It’s just-

Zed pauses.

Ocre: Don’t push it so hard. Your memories’ll come flooding back in no time, but only when they’re ready to.

Zed nods and sighs.

Zed: I sure hope you’re right…

Ocre: C’mon, Zeddy! When have I ever steered you wrong?

Zed: Never, but we’ve only known each other for two days.

Ocre pauses.

Ocre: Fair point, I suppose… anyway, let’s head down to the food hall. I promise the grub’s not as bad as that gnome implies. They have a Drake’s Supreme Pies, for one.

Zed’s stomach rumbles.

Zed: I suppose a pie sounds good right about now.

Ocre: Then let’s go grab a whole “mess” of treats, haha!

Zed and Ocre head below deck.

***

The scene zooms out of Zed’s mind as he snaps back to reality.

Brocc: -the best pie you’ve ever had!

Bryn: Nah! It ain’t as good as Mama Braunie’s everyvak pot pie.

Brocc: The fresh is “Mama Braunie” when she’s in Platinia?

Bryn: My mother, obviously. Try to keep up, Brocky-Doo!

Brocc: You call your mother by her first name?

Bryn: Well, duh! Don’t you?

Brocc: Of course not!

Bryn: Oh. And yet you never shut up about your siblings’ names.

Brocc: That’s different!

Bryn: Why should it be any different? Is your mother the boss of you?

Brocc: Nobody’s the boss of me! Especially not Sven! Ooh, that Sven…

Emily: Pardon my intrusion, but what is your mother’s name?

Brocc: Silvia. Silvia Schott.

Bryn: That’s it?

Brocc: Well… yeah. Shouldn’t it be?

Bryn: But your last name is “Farshot,” right? Why isn’t your mother’s?

Brocc: Well, because my family name is a mashup of both my parents’.

Amethyst: I am unfamiliar with such custom amongst your kind, Cher Broccoli.

Brocc: Oh… it’s complicated.

Bryn: Okay, then what’s your father’s name?

Brocc: Barry Pharr.

Bryn: Seriously?!

Bryn cracks up laughing.

Brocc: Hey, what’s so funny?!

Bryn: Well, now we know where “Brocc Choy” came from.

Brocc: Uh… no!

Bryn: Your Papa’s name is Berry Farm!

Brocc: That’s not even close to-

Zed closes his eyes as the scene zooms into his mind.

***

A wolf’s howl sounds as the scene cuts to a view of Zed in his current attire. He walks through a town in a remote highland, a scrap of parchment with the name “OCRE” in his right hand.

Zed: I sure hope this is the place.

Zed reaches the door and knocks three times. After a moment, the door opens, revealing a humanoid dragon similar to Ocre, though with red scales instead of gold, and a streamlined set of armour best suited for a warrior-athlete.

Zed: Oh… hello. I’m looking for a… “drachomus” named Ocre.

The dragon smiles.

Dragon: You’re looking at her.

Zed: Oh! I thought…

“Ocre” raises an eyebrow.

Zed: I was told you have gold scales, not red.

Ocre: Who, me? Haha!

Zed chuckles nervously.

Zed: Hoo boy…

Ocre: What can I do for ya?

Zed: I came to ask you about a human in the care of your group.

Ocre: Oh, you mean Alph, right?

Zed: Uh…

Ocre: Yeah, I definitely see the resemblance now. Wanna come in? There’s pie.

Zed: Oh… no, just making sure she’s alright for now.

Ocre’s eyes widen.

Ocre: She…?

Zed: It’s complicated, but she may not remember her past, including her original name.

Ocre: Hate to break it to ya, kid, but our human’s definitely male.

Zed’s eyes sadden a little.

Zed: R-Really…?

Ocre: Yeah… actually, you’re a lot alike, you two. Wanna meet him?

Zed shakes his head.

Zed: This… “Alph” isn’t my quest. I apologise for my intrusion.

Ocre: Don’t mention it. I hope you find your missing person.

Zed: Thank you.

Zed bows, before walking away. Ocre smiles.

Ocre: Nice kid.

A faint cyan glow briefly illuminates Ocre’s face as a dark-haired, respirator wearing human male approaches Ocre from behind.

Human: Who was that?

Ocre: Not sure, but he seemed vaguely familiar… well, Alphabet, shall we spar a bit before lunch?

Alph: I thought you’d never ask…

***

The scene zooms out of Zed’s mind. He opens his eyes and sits up, groaning, before realising he’s in bed.

Zed: What happened…?

Brocc: You fainted.

Brocc is suddenly standing there.

Zed: WAH! Oh… you startled me.

Brocc: Funny… you haven’t fainted like this in months.

Zed: Well, heheh… how long was I out?

Brocc shrugs.

Brocc: Three days. I’ll let everyone know you’re awake.

Zed: Thanks.

Brocc: No problem, Zander.

Brocc leaves the room as Zed gently lays back down, snuggling back into place as he closes his eyes and smacks his lips.

Zed’s thoughts: Months…

Zed’s eyes suddenly snap open, his irises glowing brightly with cyan light.

Zed: What the-

The scene cuts to black as a wolf’s howl sounds.