Everie remembered that day vividly - that day they watched the stars fall.

Addie was the one that first broached the idea. While Everie had spent most of her time honing her craft, her two closest... friends, had devoted their time to alternate pursuits. For Addie, that had been history - at least, whatever of it was left. Selena had encouraged their development as much as possible, of course, teaching herself and them in their preferred subjects as diligently as possible.

Surprisingly, after her initial attempt, she never tried to convert Everie again. Maybe she knew such a thing would be a lost cause, even back then.

In one of the books Addie had read, which Ellie corroborated with her own forays into literature, it was said that on the solstice of a certain month, on a certain year- Everie didn’t remember much of what she said after that. But the general summary was that there would be a comet shower on a certain day.

So they lay together on one of the taller sand dunes in the graveyard, all four of them. Oh-one, joined by the now oh-fourteen, oh-thirty-one, and oh-forty-one, watching as the eternally smog- filled skies filled with thousands of tiny lights, each streaking their own path across the cosmos eternal.

Four Sisters, joined in deathly communion, surrounded by the spirits of all their fallen comrades-

-watching as the skies turned to silverlight.

Everie never forgot that sight. Even after all that came after.

She remembered the conversation that followed too, vividly. It was after they were walking back - Addie and Ellie had skipped forth ahead, tittering excitedly. Years of reticence, washed away in a single night. Selena, walking at Everie’s side, couldn’t help but let a small smile play across the face.

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Everie was more reserved. But even she had been moved by the experience.

“That was wonderful, wasn’t it?” Selena had said. “Us four, all together. Reminds me of old times.”

“The Sisterhood is getting older and older,” Everie responded, quietly. She looked up at the older girl, before whispering. “It’s all thanks to you.”

Selena raised a brow.

“More Sisters are surviving,” Everie said. “Whatever vision you had, it’s working.”

“Well, that was certainly an unexpected compliment,” Selena said. She grinned. “What brought this change of heart on? I thought you disagreed with my ideals.”

“No! No,” Everie said, frantically. “That... that’s not what I meant.” She grew quieter. “I just wasn’t sure that someone like myself could ever live like the way you taught us to. But I was wrong.”

Selena blinked, but Everie pressed on. She had to press on.

“I’d... like to learn what Addie and Ellie have, if possible,” she said.

The older girl didn’t respond. Everie glanced at Selena nervously.

“Selena?” she whispered. “Is somethi-”

With a whoop, oh-one scooped Everie into her arms. The younger girl squawked in outrage- but then, upon looking at the smile on Selena’s face, she couldn’t help but smile.

“I thought you’d never ask,” she said, grinning toothily. “Very well, my little ice-princess. I’ll shower you with as much love and attention as you want.”

Everie blushed, as Selena carried her down into the catacombs. Addie and Ellie were waiting for them; they glanced at Everie, brows creasing in unity, before their faces lit up in realization.

Even in ruin, this world, Everie had thought to herself at that moment, really isn’t so bad after all.

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The next day, both Addie and Ellie died in a catastrophic operation.

Everie was the only survivor.