And so, Prism reconstructed the [Hover] within moments, and Ember couldn't help but be at an awe seeing the entire process occur in real time.
She saw how efficiently Prism worked, how she manipulated the energy with flawless precision, as well as the fact that she only used the surrounding energy, without needing to absorb it within herself first.
The only thing Ember could feel now, was how inferior she was compared to the Entity working in front of her.
Even though Ember felt like she had efficiently and flawlessly crafted her object, she still couldn't help but incompetent when she saw how effortless Prism seemed to have created an object.
The new [Hover] was different from the previous one, much different in fact.
The object is an elegant, oval-shaped lidded vessel resembling a gently flattened ellipsoid or a stylized clamshell. Its smoothly rounded, symmetrical form features a slightly elongated profile with soft, organic curves that taper toward the ends, evoking the gentle contours of a river stone or a pod.
The lid fits seamlessly over the matching lower half, creating a clean horizontal division that emphasizes the balanced, almost egg-like proportions when closed. The only thing it retained from its predecessor was the prismatic color.
It was designed for speed, as well as comfort. Furthermore, it was made to be very durable, so that it wouldn't get destroyed so easily again.
Shortly after the [Hover] had been upgraded after it's near destruction, as well as to accommodate their growing numbers, a new glow approached the group, Ember.
Her warm amber light was steady but edged with something unspoken.
"Prism," Ember began, drifting closer to her. "I have something that I need to tell you."
"Ah, that's right." Prism responded, as if she had remembered something. "You don't have to be–"
"That's Boss to you." Cream interjected sharply, her creamy radiance flaring.
"That's right." Gold added with unnecessary enthusiasm.
Aloe simply watched, silent and attentive, pale green light calm as always.
There's that word again. Ember thought to herself. "Boss?" she repeated aloud, confusion rippling through her glow.
"Yes. You have to call her Boss." Cream clarified, as though stating an obvious law of the universe.
"That's right." Gold echoed once more.
"Why should I? What does it mean?" Ember pressed, her tone growing sharper with bewilderment.
"It's an unspoken rule that everyone has to follow. I do it, Aloe does it, Gold does it, and now you have to as well." Cream explained, folding authority into every syllable.
That doesn't really answer my question. In fact, it just sounds like an excuse used to avoid it in the first place. Ember reflected quietly. She didn't appreciate Cream's deflection of her question.
"That's right." Gold chimed in yet again.
"Would you shut up already!" Cream finally exploded, her light spiking in irritation.
To her, Gold's constant agreement sounded like mockery, an imitation of her insistence that Prism be addressed as "Boss" rather than by her actual name. She took it personally, as though he were ridiculing her attachment to the title.
Of course, this wasn't Gold's intention. He had simply wanted to show his support, as one of Prism's subordinates. Unfortunately for him, his feelings weren't properly conveyed to his coworker.
That said, Gold, who was still momentarily spent from his earlier exertion, let the argument die without any protest on his part. For once, he simply dimmed and drifted back a pace in quiet obedient.
Now I know two methods to stop both Cream and Gold from arguing. Prism noted with faint amusement.
Prism had always paid close attention to small patterns such as the way an Entity's light shifted, the cadence of their voices, as well as the precise moment that tension broke or rebuilt. Details like these would sometimes reveal more than grand declarations ever could.
"That sounds stupid." Ember said with a short, incredulous chuckle.
"If you feel that way," Cream replied coolly, "then maybe you don't deserve to be one of us."
"What are you taking about?" Ember asked, her lights flaring with unease.
"I'm just saying," Cream replied with a cunning tone. "maybe you shouldn't be part of the mission."
"What?!" Ember replied, startled. "You can't do that. Prism has already accepted me as a part of the mission." she continued, turning her attention to Prism.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Cream mused, her lights glowing mischievously. Ember turned to look at her. "There you go again, calling her Prism instead of Boss. And yet you still want to be a part of the mission."
Cream shifted, as if slowly shaking her nonexistent head from side to side.
"It makes you wonder where your priorities lie." Cream continued.
"Ember turned once again towards Prism, her nonexistent eyes pleading for her to do something about Cream.
Seeing this, the fact that Cream was somewhat trying to manipulate Ember, made Prism feel like finally intervening.
This wasn't out of pity of feeling sad for Ember, nor was it out of reigning Cream in or anything like that. Prism simply wanted to end the interaction so that they could all continue on with the mission.
And so, Prism drifted closer to the both of them, whilst sending Cream a private message.
[It's fine, Cream. It doesn't bother–]
[No! I absolutely refuse to change my stance on this.]
Prism stopped her movement for a brief moment.
[Why are you so adamant about it?]
[I... I have my reasons, alright? Just... please allow me to handle this situation.]
Prism sighed internally, then made her choice.
[If you say so, then I'll let you handle this.]
[Thank you, Boss.]
Formal, huh? Prism noted.
Prism had tried to defuse the situation telepathically, but Cream's resolve proved to be ironclad.
Since the matter genuinely did not trouble her either way, nor did it truly inhibit the mission in any way, Prism chose not to interfere in the end. Some things were best left to the subordinates to sort out among themselves.
With that thought in mind, Prism felt as though she was finished with this discussion.
Ember glanced toward Prism, searching for some sign or explanation, or anything at all to clarify why this trivial word carried such a seemingly weight.
However, Prism offered nothing to her, merely turning away with calm deliberation.
"I'll let you handle this, then." Prism said aloud, addressing Cream. "Meet us at the [Hover] afterwards." She gave a subtle pulse of light to Aloe and Gold, signaling them to quietly follow behind her.
"Okay, Boss. I won't make you wait long." Cream replied, already squaring herself towards Ember.
Prism, Aloe, and Gold drifted away, leaving the two Entities alone in the open expanse.
"Well?" Cream demanded the moment they were out of easy earshot. "Are you going to call her Boss? Or are we done here?"
"Why Boss?" Ember countered. "Why is that name so important to you?"
"As your superior," Cream said, voice flat and uncompromising, "I decide what to tell you, and when to tell you. Now, answer the question, or get left behind."
Ember's amber glow dimmed briefly in frustration, then steadied.
"Fine. I'll do it." Ember said reluctantly.
"Do what?" Cream asked with a mocking tone.
Cream was being petty now, and she knew it. In fact, she simply didn't care about it. Her pride was overwriting the part of herself that knew how petty she was being and that she should let this topic go.
After all, if Aloe and Gold, rather, if Gold, someone who not only has a bad first impression with Cream, who not only constantly fights with her every moment he gets, but someone who had also insulted Prism during their first meeting, is able to call Prism "Boss", then Ember, who is not only also in the same boat, but also smarter than Gold, should be more than capable of calling Prism "Boss".
That's how Cream felt about this situation.
That said, perhaps it was the fact that Ember is smarter than Gold, that she didn't immediately comply with using Boss when referring to Prism.
But for Cream, it was the fact that she was smarter than him, that she should've simply agreed to call Prism Boss, instead of making such a fuss in the first place.
Even regarding both of those options, then why does Aloe, someone with a great first impression on both Prism and Cream, use the word Boss?
Maybe it's because of Aloe's timid nature, coupled with Aloe's need to fit in, that made Aloe comply with the demand.
In any case, according to Cream's logic, there's no reason, at all, for Ember to not call Prism "Boss".
As for Ember, she was just pissed off to be told what to do by someone who is clearly inferior to her. Her pride, ego, or whatever part of her that hates being treated with disrespect by an Entity that's lower than her, simply couldn't accept being told what to do.
Still, she now knew that she has no choice but to do so. After all, her only lifeline, Prism, left her alone with this unreasonable Entity, Cream.
Thus, the current situation.
"I'll call her Boss, alright! Are you happy?!"
With no other path left open, Ember accepted her surrender. In a single conversation, she had swallowed her pride twice.
The first time was when she followed them here against her better judgment. The second time was now, under Cream's unyielding pressure.
The sting of the consecutive defeats burned deeper than she wanted to admit.
"Good. Then let's go." Cream said briskly.
Beneath her bravado, Cream felt a quiet triumph.
Being humiliated in front of Prism, not once, but twice, had left a bruise on her pride. Forcing Ember to bend like this felt like the balance was restored.
If she could make someone else taste that same defeat, the very same Entity that had caused that defeat, then perhaps the ache would lessen, even if only a little.
I can't believe I had to face humiliation, twice. Ember thought, fury simmering beneath the surface. And the worst part is that it came from someone so far beneath me. Aloud she said only, "I'll be sure to remember this."
"Make sure you do." Cream replied, amusement flickering in her light. That should knock her down a peg or two.
They rejoined the others at the [Hover].
Cream had orchestrated this confrontation deliberately. Ember's confident presence had unsettled her from the start, she was too bright and too self-assured.
And so, Cream needed to assert her place as Prism's first and most trusted subordinate.
The "Boss" dispute was merely a convenient pretext for a one-on-one talk that Cream had wanted to have ever since Ember had first appeared.
In truth, the word itself held no deep significance. Cream simply loved that she had been the one to invent it. The idea that others, now used a phrase born from her own mind, filled her with a secret satisfaction.
She had never admitted the real reason to anyone, not even Prism. Whenever her boss asked her about it, Cream offered excuses, each one flimsier than the last, and each excuse left her feeling a pang of guilt for concealing anything from the one Entity that she most wanted to be honest with.
"Well, how did it go?" Aloe asked gently as they approached.
"Better than I expected." Cream answered, her voice laced with smug satisfaction.
"I'm glad to hear it."
Ember entered the [Hover] without a word, her amber light muted, refusing even a glance towards Aloe or Gold.
"Looks like someone's a bit grumpy." Gold observed. He wasn't trying to provoke her, but simply couldn't read the atmosphere. In that regard, he was being his usual oblivious self.
"Don't worry about her." Cream said dismissively.
"You sure?" Gold pressed.
"Yep. From now on, we're all going to get along nicely." Cream directed the last word toward Prism, a silent plea for approval.
"Sounds like good news." Prism replied evenly.
"It sure is." she said in a cheery tone.
[Congratulations. You did good.]
[Thanks, Boss. I appreciate it.]
Prism offered the praise because she sensed Cream waiting for it, needing it, even.
To Cream, it was a small affirmation after a tense victory. Cream's light brightened noticeably.
Make that three methods. Prism thought, glancing across the group.
Cream was so buoyed by her triumph over Ember that, for the moment, she completely forgot to pick a fight with Gold.
Aloe noticed the unusual quiet and reflected wryly. Not that I want them to argue in the first place, but this situation feels a bit, uncharacteristic for the two of them.
Inside the [Hover], the five companions settled once more.
The vessel sealed with a soft chime and began to glide forward, trailing its signature ribbon of refracted rainbow light. Behind them stretched the endless luminous Void, ahead lay the next destination, the next potential recruit.
Ember remained silent, nursing her wounded pride.
Cream basked in her own quiet victory.
Gold, unusually subdued, simply drifted without causing trouble.
Aloe simply observed all three of them with patient calm.
And Prism, ever watchful, steered them onward, cataloguing every shift of light, every unspoken tension, as well as every fragile new alliance.
Having subordinates was never simple, and she now knew that.
But moments like this, when small victories and small defeats balanced one another, reminded her that harmony could still emerge, even if it sometimes sounded suspiciously like bickering.