Natalia’s face has changed. It’s been years since I last saw her. She was so much shorter back then. Just the cutest little Demi-Cat. Now she’s all grown up and beautiful. But it’s...wrong. She’s...not right. Her face looks...it looks so angry. And lonely. Just like mine in the mirror sometimes. Natalia’s eyes are cold. Shiny with unshed tears. I’ve never seen her so mad. The snow falling on us is freezing. Her gaze flickers to the ice lance in my hand, now shaking prodigiously. Finally, she says something-

“I protected my Master. That’s all that matters. Even if Myrr punishes me, I did my duty as a maid.”

...

...

It’s really...you?

I...was going to kill...you…Natalia?

How can you be Echo?!

None of this makes any sense!

This time, I’m silent. Speechless just as she’s been ever since our first meeting in Merekeep. My mind is whirling, lost in free fall as I realize the truth I’ve been too blind to see. For the longest time, I just stay there. Atop Natalia’s bloody body in the snow. Wondering how things could be so...so wrong. The Stranger’s smiling mask flashes through my mind, and I can hear his laughter echoing everywhere. It’s like he’s in my head. It’s all wrong. I can’t...no...no...this is his fault! He twisted you! How did he find you? You’re supposed to be with Elina! This is impossible! Who told you that I was here? Everyone in the Sect was supposed to keep you from coming to Merekeep! You shouldn’t even know I’m here!

Finally, I manage to find a reply,

“Natalia...what have you done? This isn’t real right? It’s a dream…it has to be. How could you even…you’re not strong enough…right? Why...why would you kill...how could you…to Kisa?” I stammer. It’s the best I can do. Her reply doesn’t take long.

“Because she was going to talk!” Natalia violently erupts with horrific rage. At the same time, she twists underneath me, her grown Demi-body shockingly strong. Despite all the damage I did, she’s already regaining her strength. I can’t stop her. My ice lance is knocked away by her paw as she transforms. The enraged Demi-Cat’s fury causes her lips to curl. She yowls, “YOU LEFT ME! I CAME TO PROTECT YOU! THEY WOULD HAVE LEARNED EVERYTHING FROM HER!”

*Kacha*

My spell is flung away by her inhuman strength. The ice lance shatters into pieces on the alleyway wall. Natalia escapes out from under me in a flash. I do nothing to stop her. My shock is too strong. I can’t move. I can’t understand it. How can Natalia be Echo? Echo is a cold-blooded killer…and incredibly strong. When I left Natalia with Elina, she wasn’t anywhere this strong. Wait…these movements…I always thought they looked familiar. Echo was always so fast. She just appeared…the same way…Rainstoppers do. I told Elina to train Natalia. And Echo uses a short sword just like Elina does…No hold on…hold on! This is ridiculous, am I seriously even considering this?!

“You…all you do is talk about her. I can’t believe it. He really was right.” My adorable little sister is glaring at me. On all fours, her back arched, tail puffed out so much it’s almost as big as the rest of her. She’s looking at me as if I’m the traitor. As if I was working for the enemy. But...it’s you. You were working for him. Why, Natalia? You’re supposed to be my sister!

“Just…hold on, Natalia. Who was right? The Stranger? What are you doing here?” I try to talk to her. To reason with my maid. I need some time to figure out what’s happening. “I left you with Elina. Why are you in Merekeep? Let’s just…just calm down. There has to be some sort of misunderstanding-”

“M-Misunderstanding?” Natalia growls low and dangerous. Her eyes narrow until they’re so much slits in the night. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve been watching you? What I’ve done for you? To keep you safe? No…No…you have no clue. You only see them. But never me. I’m just…just…nobody to you. You don’t want me.”

“Natalia, what are you talking about?” I gulp. Though her words don’t make a ton of sense, I’m starting to get a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. Down, down, down, I realize the voice has been trying to warn me for a long time. Oh God…how much did I miss? How long have I been dreaming? Think, Myrr, think! You have to figure this out fast. Holding out my hand, I plead with Natalia for her patience, “I don’t know what’s going on. And I don’t know what he told you. But in my head, you’ve always been my sister. My family! Everything I’ve done here, I’ve done for us! Every move I made was so that we could be together and safe one day. I’ve never forgotten you, never! Not even for one day! You matter more than anything or anyone to me-”

“LIAR! LIAR LIAR! YOU REPLACED ME! I SAW THEM!”

“I…what do you mean, Natalia?”

“YOUR OTHER MAIDS! DON’T TRY TO DENY IT!”

“Wait, wait! You mean Kisa and Nya? It’s not like that-!”

“I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE YOUR MAID!”

“P-Please Natalia…listen to me!”

“SHUT UP! I HATE YOU!”

Damnit…the Stranger did this! I don’t know how, but he’s…he’s ruined everything. It’s his fault…isn’t it? But…why? Why is it so hard to explain this to you? I mean…I…I’m not lying! I…I never forgot you! So this should be easy. Why am I struggling so much? Why won’t the words come out already! Everything you’re saying…it’s wrong…right?

The tears in my eyes sting so bad. I’m so freaking cold. All my fiery rage has disappeared and now I’m just empty. And full of despair-

“Y-You think I wanted to replace you, Natalia?”

“I know you are!”

…

Is that what the Stranger told you?

“You were going to do it!”

How could you believe him?

“Admit it!”

You think I could ever replace you?

“See! You can’t deny it!”

What have you done?

How can I ever look you in the face again?

After what you did to Kisa?

“I knew it! You really were replacing me!”

What have I done?

How could I let this happen?

...

My voice isn’t working.

Nothing’s working.

It’s all falling apart.

I try to say something.

It comes out as a garbled mess-

“I...I can explain…Kisa...was just helping me...until I could bring you here...this was supposed to be our new home. It was going to be perfect! She wanted to meet you...I thought...you could be sisters! But you...it’s all...wrong...I did this for you…but you…you killed her. You killed, KISA! You were supposed to be sisters! Damnit, how the f*ck am I going to explain this to Nya…Why, Natalia? Why are you HERE?! Who told you I was here!”

…

…

Natalia’s eyes gleam like shattered emeralds. Hints of different emotions surface through their shining depths. Hatred turns to confusion, then resolidifies into rage and disbelief. She stares at me with nothing but contempt on her face. And I know that while Natalia has never doubted anything I’ve said, right now, nothing is getting through to her.

“No...No! Liar! You don’t care about me at all!

You barely sent any letters!

I prayed for you to come back every day…

For my birthday I only had one wish.

I wished you’d come back!

Or send me something…ANYTHING!

But every year, you’d always be late!

You missed every single one!

I trained every day for years!

Just like you asked!

But you wouldn’t take me with you even though you promised we’d be together!

You said you had important things to do!

But Myrr still had time to play with THEM!

Even though they’re so useless...so weak!

So how important were your things to do, huh?

How come they get to be with you!

I didn’t want to believe that you replaced me…but he told me to look.

And it all made sense!

I saw you through the window!

With those Demi’s you’re trying to replace me with…

Don’t deny it!

One of them even looks like I used to!

You don’t care about me!

You stay with them…and not me…even Meera gets to be with you!

After all she’s done you choose HER over me!

Do you know what it’s like?

Being alone!

Do you…do you?!

You still have your family…

Romy and Mark are still alive!

And Elina loves you!

But I have no one!

Do you know what that’s like?!

To be completely…totally…alone?

I…I just wanted to be your maid…

WHY….Why did you leave me behind?!”

Natalia howls, as the tears finally fall. An unhinged look of sheer rage crosses her face. It’s so...twisted. I never thought to see Natalia hating me. Or perhaps I just didn’t want to believe it. But now Natalia is showing me. What I’ve done to her. My maid viciously grins even as she snarls in disgust,

“You...this is your fault!

You’re so useless!

Such a weak Master!

But it’s okay. I protected you.

I’ll always protect you!

Even if you don’t want me to!

I won’t be replaced!

That’s right!

He said she was a liability!

That she was going to hurt Myrr!

I had to kill your stupid replacements!

Or they’d talk...and then they’d find you...and...and...you LEFT me!

And replaced me...with HER! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE MYRR! I HATE YOU! I HATE MYRR! I HATE MY MASTER! I HATE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

…

…

I...Natalia…

Who are you even talking about at this point?

Kisa...Nya...Meera?

Me?

…

“Natalia...d-do...you even hear yourself?”

This isn’t right.

Where did you learn these awful words?

I...I didn’t teach them to you...did I?

Are you really...my echo?

Did I make you this way?

#

How long…how long have you been watching me?

I…I should have seen this coming.

But I missed it. I missed you.

Were you trying to tell me the truth?

Natalia…why didn’t you say something?

You just had to say something, anything!

How long have I been dreaming?

The Stranger’s mocking voice floats through my head. Suddenly, his words take on a new meaning. I remember all the times we met. All those snide remarks. He was taunting me, wasn’t he? There were clues, I was just too blind to see them. I wanted to play hero with everyone at the shop. But in the end, the person who needed me the most was right beside me all along. And I never even noticed. Or maybe…maybe I just didn’t want to see the truth…

…

“Meera...Myrr, meet my new lieutenant, Echo. She’s been flying through my ranks lately.”

“I thought you didn’t trust women?”

“Echo’s an exception. I mean I saw how great your staff was...all those girls...so loyal!”

“Despite what her name might suggest, Echo doesn’t talk much. My little joke.”

She fights like a ghost…like a Rainstopper.

…

“You can just give Echo the Icebomb directly tonight.”

“She’s been doing it all anyways. In a way, you’re like old friends...no partners, already!”

“Isn’t it great that you’ve finally gotten to know each other?”

Why does she keep looking at me like that?

…

[Echo...echo...aren’t we all just echoes?

Hehe...that’s what evil is...a never-ending echo...]

…

“There’s too many floors! How do we know which one to search?”

“Echo will tell us!”

“You trust her that much…how does she know which floor to search?”

“Trust is all relative, my boy.”

How does she know?

…

“But yes, Echo will help us find the Ferry-Rat. As for how she knows, you should ask her.”

“Echo doesn’t talk though.”

“Well then, I suppose you’re just not going to know then, are you?”

I thought something was off, but couldn’t put my finger on it.

Was she sniffing the floors?

…

The Flesh Witch’s arms slam down on the boat.

Meera can’t help me.

I’m going to die.

But someone pulls me away.

“E-Echo? You saved me?”

“I…was simply doing my duty.”

You’d risk your life to save me?

…

Issel’s going to kill us.

We need to abandon ship.

Meera yanks on my arm but I won’t go.

I can’t leave a bunch of Demi-children to die.

You all look so much like Natalia…

…

Someone grabs my other arm and yanks.

Tells me to go-

“What are you doing! Run! Leave them. They’re too weak to survive!”

“But…don’t you see? I need to save her.”

How could I say that…in front of her?

…

“No…guys…you don’t understand…Natalia’s…right here.”

I try to explain why I won’t go.

The tugging on my arm stops.

Echo freezes, wordless.

It must have hurt so bad.

…

A faceless mask stares at me sadly, not leaving even though the tentacles are coming crashing down.

Perhaps silently asking.

Or painfully laughing.

How could I leave her behind but not these random kids?

I’m an idiot.

…

A hopeless scene from months ago.

Snowy night, laughter in the shop.

Meera and I are preparing to go out.

Kisa and Nya playing around, acting as my maids.

*Knock Knock*

…

There’s a knock on the door.

We find a faceless girl standing outside.

She just watches, and no one knows what she’s thinking.

“Won’t you come inside?”

I was such an idiot.

…

We invite her in.

But she shakes her head.

I carelessly close the door.

Without a second thought.

Shutting her out.

…

Moments later, we’re back to playing around.

Being a family.

I thought she left.

But now I can see it.

She never left.

…

In the shop window, watching us sadly.

A pair of forgotten cat-eyes.

Standing out in the cold.

All alone.

Why didn’t I see her?

…

Meera and I flirt, unaware our guest hasn’t left.

The Demi’s giggle and clean the shop.

We were so insufferably happy.

Playing together, without her.

What must it have looked like?

…

The painful eyes in the window watch until they can’t take anymore.

An unheard scream grows and grows in silence.

She clenches her teeth, trying to hold it in.

But her heart aches so badly and there’s no one to turn to-

I replaced her.

…

Slowly, what little love is left dies.

All that remains is a silent scream.

Warped, twisted emotions seethe under that mouthless mask.

Even still, I could have helped her if she just had lips to speak.

I should have known

…

But that is my quiet Echo.

Always loyally following.

Watching to see what I say.

Unable to speak up for herself.

She was always here.

…

Outside our warm window.

A small figure stands.

Hunched over in the cold.

Slowly, slowly, the Stranger whispers in her ear.

This whole time.

…

What lies he tells her,

I don’t know.

But it can’t be hard.

Not after what she’s seen.

She was always here.

…

And through the glass.

Those painful eyes narrow.

A desperate paw clenches.

And then…the window breaks.

I HATE YOU!

…

*Kacha*

…

The cold comes pouring in-

*Shuaaaaaaaaaaaaa*

…

And I wake up.

Far, far too late.

…

She was right.

I am no Truthseeker.

I am just a Dreamer.

And now my pleasant dream is over.

…

I’m so sorry!

…

You were ALWAYS here!

…

I just couldn’t see it!

…

“Natalia…” I can’t say anything more. Slowly, it’s coming to me. That the only person Natalia ever modeled herself after was myself. I remember her radiant childish innocence and happy presence in Sines. Always watching. She had nothing but one goal. To protect and serve her Master. And I took that from her. Without thinking. I took her reason for existing. How could I not see it? All this time…she’s been working so hard. Just like I taught her. Everything I said to her…I never expected her to take it seriously. I never thought she would really change. I never thought I’d make her…

Like me.

…