My New Sister

A beautiful commission from

A change of pace from my usual stuff, yes, but she really does draw the most adorable things! If you want 'cute', you now know where to go! (All credit goes to her, she rightly does worry about people stealing her art).

This picture depicts the very first moment Ellie and Pyrrha, our Best Friends Forever, met...


"It's a beautiful picture. And a beautiful moment. Thinking about it now makes me sad, with all that has happened. But you have to understand what went before, to realise where we have now arrived...

In a moment, I will reach out and take the Helm of War... or reject it. Without the Helm, my home and the lands of the West will burn. With it, I will make such war upon the South that they shall never recover. Someone must suffer, it seems. Can I lose myself to protect the lands I love?

But really, that doesn't matter.

And shortly the Tournament wil conclude, and we shall know who succeeds my mother as the greatest warrior of this age.

But really, that doesn't matter.

And very soon, I will choose a mortal life, with all that entails... or I will choose to spend eternity with the sister who loves me.

And really, that does matter. The infinity of worlds turns on my decision. The War in Heaven has been fought and lost; forever yoking reality to the whims of a child. I see that now. But I can help make things better for her.


I was six years old. It was a few weeks after they rescued me from the Phantom Pavilion. I had just acquired NomNom, my rabbit. Mummy had to take me out of school. The other children couldn't stand to be near me after I had languished in that place. They would rather be covered in furry spiders than sit next to me. The other girls would cry, or faint, or burst into tears when they looked at me. I would be apart forever, touched by the strange world that held me captive.

I had just about worked out that Daddy would never be coming back. But Mummy said I would have a new daddy now. She changed me into my best blue dress so I could meet my new family. NomNom started nomming my gown. He's always been like that.

I was surprised that my new daddy was a lady. I think I loved Mithria from the moment I saw her. She had a girl of her own, about my age, perhaps a little younger.

I sat on a weathered log, looking out at Thaloch Annanis, the moonmere, and thinking. And then something happened that would change my life forever. Change everyone's life, I suppose.

Ellie was as much a kitty as girl, really. A nervous, excitable bundle of energy. She hugged me so tight, it took my breath away. She had brought me a dandelion as a gift. So thoughtful, even then. Her voice ached with longing, and I knew then I would never be alone.

"Will you be my new sister?"