Ema sighed softly as she put down her note book.

She had been working on art of her favorite Homestuck Ancestor, the Dolorosa, for nearly an hour, and it was starting to get late.

She stretched her arms above her head and climbed into her large bed, sliding underneath the covers while the fan in her room hummed softly.

As she started to fall asleep, she didn't notice the being in her room, a woman with piercing eyes.

The woman gently touched Ema's head, letting it glimmer faintly before Ema's body vanished in a flash of light, and soon after, the woman followed.

--

Ema woke with a groan. She was lying on a hard ground with a thin blanket covering her body.

She sat up, rubbing her head. She felt something sticking from her hair and froze.

She felt the odd things for a moment before realizing what they were.

Horns.

She gasped, her hands trailing down to find find sticking out from the side of her neck.

A horrible feeling started to settle in her stomach as she got a good look around.

She was in some sort of clearing in a dense forest. She was wearing a long black dress with the Space sign in the middle of it colored a dark fuchsia color.

She swallowed thickly, getting to her feet slowly, shaking a bit as she looked around the clearing.

She soon found her trusty bag of an assorted potion things and pulled out her dagger. From her experience reading Homestuck, she knew that Alternia was dangerous.

Well, she hoped this was Alternia...

A faint rustling caused her to stiffen up. She held onto her dagger tightly as she whirled around, shaking as she held onto the dagger before her, trying to look threatening.

From a bush a few meters before her were two glowing red and blue eyes that regarded her curiously, and soon, two other pairs of the same eyes joined them.

Ema didn't speak, and instead took a small step backwards. She had an inkling of who those people were, but she wasn't willing to test her theory.

Before she could take another step, a tall Troll stepped out into the clearing.

He was thin and gangly, wearing a yellow sort of clothing with his sign etched onto it; Gemini.

This was the Psiioniic.

Ema swallowed thickly, a shiver going up her spine as the Psiioniic's eyes bore into her own.

His thin lips were pursed in a straight line, although his long fangs peeked out from beneath them.

"And who might you be?" He asked, a sort of heavy lisp in his tone. Ema swallowed, shaking in fear.

How was she supposed to talk to such a powerful Troll?? Hell, he was fictional, how the fuck was this happening?!

Not surprised by her silence, the Psiioniic held out a hand to her.

"Come," he said softly, "you look lost, and it would be ill-willed of me to leave someone alone in this forest." He said.

Ema swallowed, looking from his hand back to his face before hesitantly reaching out with her own, letting his larger one envelop hers.

The Psiioniic smiled gently at her, looking back into the bushes and calling out.

"Mituna, Sollux, come out," he called, and soon, two shorter males emerged from the wood.

Sollux looked hesitant as he watched Ema with careful eyes behind his glasses, while Mituna sprung forward, grinning widely at Ema.

Ema gave Mituna a hesitant smile back, pocketing her blade as the Psiioniic cleared his throat.

"We should head back to camp. Signless will help you." He said, gently pulling on Ema's hand, leading her down a path.

Mituna and Sollux flanked her sides, Mituna prattling on about something or another while Sollux glanced at her out of the corner of his eye suspiciously.

Ema understood why he was so nervous. From what she could tell, she was a highblood, possibly somewhere near the very top of the Hemospectrum.

She suppressed a shudder at the thought. She would be culled for sure if she was caught, and that was something she didn't want to go through.

As she lost herself briefly in her thoughts, the group emerged from the forest, nearing a large camp.

It had high wooden walls that were carved at the tips, as well as banners depicting an equal sign.

This was the place where the Signless was, Ema supposed.

As they walked into camp, Mituna and Sollux got closer to her, their taller stature blocking her from seeing much.

She looked forward, nervously clutching at her small bag as the Psiioniic came to a stop.

He stepped to the side, smiling kindly at Ema and gently pushing her forward towards a large grey tent.

Ema swallowed thickly before she stepped forward, the Psiioniic parting the tent covers for her.

The inside of the tent was dim, lit by a few candles, but Ema could clearly see the Signless inside, speaking softly with the Disciple.

"Signless," the Psiioniic said quietly, making himself known.

The Signless looked up, and his bright red eyes immediately took Ema in. They softened a bit in confusion as he stood up.

"I found her in the clearing of the woods. I can't say how long she was there, but there was no sign of any guards with her," the Psiioniic reported, gently resting a large hand on Ema's shoulder, guiding her forward gently.

"I see.." The Signless mused, smiling gently at Ema as he got down on his knee to get to Ema's level.

"It is very nice to meet you," the Signless said gently.

Ema swallowed thickly and did all she could think to do, and bowed deeply to him.

She heard the clear gasp of shock from the Disciple, and squeaked as she straightened up, her cheeks bursting with color as she scuttled back a bit.

The Signless looked confused, but soon gave a small chuckle.

"I assume you are not from around here," he murmured, standing to his full height.

Ema nodded a bit, shyly clasping her hands before her.

"Can you speak?" The Signless asked gently. Ema opened her mouth, but paused and closed it again.

This Troll, he was someone so powerful and great, Ema simply didn't know what to say.

The Signless seemed to read the mood and waved her off gently.

"How about you tell me your name," he said. Ema nodded.

"M... My name is Ema," she said softly, her own voice seemed heavy in her mouth, but she supposed it was the whole language barrier.

"Ema.. What a curious name," the Signless said. Ema flushed again and bowed.

"I-I apologize!" She squeaked, her bad habit of apologizing coming back again.

This seemed to startle the others in the room, and Ema soon realized why.

She was a Highblood bowing and apologizing to a Lowblood, a mutant one at that.

"No, no, you're fine!" The Signless cried, sounding awkwardly making Ema cringe.

"I-I'm sorry!" She gasped again, standing up straight, shaking in fear as the Signless flushed red, looking confused and slightly distressed on what to do.

The Dolorosa, seeming to take pity on the Signless, placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Allow me, son," she said smoothly before walking toward's Ema.

Ema swallowed, fear and intimidation welling up in her throat, causing tears to come to her eyes.

The Dolorosa cooed softly and gently kneeled before Ema, wiping away her tears.

"Do not cry, little princess," she whispered, "come, I shall take you back to my tent, then we can help you out, yes?" She asked.

Ema sniffled and nodded, rubbing her eyes as she was led out of the tent.

The Dolorosa smiled at her fondly as she led her to a smaller tent that was colored a rich jade color.

"Come inside, child," the Dolorosa murmured gently, walking inside beside Ema and helping her settle down onto a small chair next to a small table.

The Dolorosa smiled at Ema, and Ema hesitantly smiled back.

"I can tell that you are scared," the Dolorosa said softly, taking Ema's hands.

"And I can see that you do not have a place here," she whispered, "you.. You are something special."  

Ema swallowed, nodding a bit, as she didn't know what else to say.

The Dolorosa looked lovingly upon Ema, brushing some of Ema's long hair behind a finned ear.

"I always wanted a daughter, you know." She said, gently helping Ema over to sit on a couch, facing away from the Dolorosa as she started to gently comb her hair.

"R-really?" Ema whispered, blinking a bit as she felt her hair being braided.

"Yes," the Dolorosa said softly in return, "my son, the Signless, is someone that I care for deeply, but I always longed for something- or someone- more.. Feminine, I suppose," she said, tying up Ema's hair.

Ema sighed a bit, leaning into the Dolorosa's touch a bit.

"I.. I don't have anywhere to go," Ema said softly, "I don't know where I am, and quite frankly, I'm afraid."

The Dolorosa hummed softly in reply.

"Then stay," she prompted gently, "you are still so young, I can't imagine you're more than five sweeps of age. The world is much too dangerous for someone like you to be out and about," she said.

"Your blood color, I have never seen it before. It is curious, and therefore, you must treasure it." She said, turning Ema to face her.

"Is it not Fuchsia?" Ema asked softly. The Dolorosa shook her head, "it's lighter than that," she murmured.

Ema looked up at the Dolorosa hopefully, about to speak when a loud horn went off.

The Dolorosa froze in fear, looking back towards the front of the tent.

"Attackers!" She gasped, getting up and pushing Ema behind her, producing a chainsaw from a tube of lipstick.

"Stay behind me, Ema!" She commanded, looking quite threatening as loud cries started outside.

Ema shuddered, backing up a bit in fear before there was a loud tearing sound behind her.

She whipped around to see a large rip in the tent, and a scarred face peering in with a sneer on his lips.

Dualscar.