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After her and Summit had breakfast, Embryo figured there was not much to be done for the rest of the day but just wait. She didn't know what time her egg would come, but until then, what else could she do?

She wasn't sure that waiting around doing nothing was how she wanted to spend her last few hours as herself not yet disillusioned to the reality of what a dragon could experience, but she was still in her state of fatigue, and she couldn't find it in her to do much. They always said not to swim on a full stomach, and her stomach was very, very full. The thought didn't help, if she couldn't even find the energy to walk down the beach, how was she going to be able to have enough to lay the egg?

She didn't even feel much anxiety anymore, just a deep dark sadness setting in at the bottom of her stomach, a sadness that this was who she was, that she would face this, that this couldn't be any other way. Perhaps it was a mercy that her anxiety was gone, to fear what you're about to face, yet facing it anyway was a horrible fate. At this point, at least she could face it without having to get worked up over what she was in for.

But as the day wore on and the Sun made its way across the sky, first rising up to its peak, then beginning to sink low into the sky on the far horizon, distributing it's warmth evenly across the sand, some of Embryo's anxiety returned. Was the egg coming today? What was taking it so long? Why can't it come already? Just let it come be over with. She shook with emotion.Just do it. Make me scream and suffer like a girl, like the weak victim of a girl I am. Because that's all I am, an Egg Laying girl. Just let it be done.

Embryo rubbed her face with her talons. Her stomach was feeling stretched, she couldn't take any more of this. She needed to lay down and curl up and relieve the tension. She could almost imagine her stomach rupturing from the tension, and she could not handle that thought at the moment.

Wait, so much tension..._Embryo looked around desperately, suddenly aware of what was about to happen. She could feel it coming on and she began to panic, her body was not ready to brace itself for what was about to happen. _No, please don't, please.

And then the contractions hit her, the tension she felt inside her exploded as if her insides had ripped into a million shreds.

She had wondered what type of pain could completely level a dragon, make them scream as if they couldn't tolerate another second of their existence, no matter how great they believed the cause, no matter how many times they had experienced it before and knew what to expect. Embryo had imagined as much pain as she could imagine, and even tried to picture worse than that, but it was nothing compared to this. She had always imagined a pain measured on a scale, now she realized, if pain could be infinite, this was not far off. While not quite there, it was just as unquantifiable, as infinity is such an abstract concept, so too is the infinite pocket of numbers that are only a portion of infinity, that dividing it up into a half, a quarter, an eighth, even a millionth will leave you with an amount significantly less than infinity, but just as unquantifiable. This was pain that could not be calculated into solid measurements, the most the most unfathomable, unbearable agony the Universe could muster upon her, each contraction so sharp it penetrated through her very being straight into her Soul. And even these words alone were not enough to even come close to comprehending what she was going through.

She couldn't do it, she couldn't help it, screams of pure agony erupted from her throat. She couldn't stop it, even if she tried. She threw herself onto her back twisting from side to side with great ferocity, her wings twisting underneath her weight. When one is faced with something of extreme pain such as a knife or flame or something, their first instinct is to pull themselves away to prevent the pain from penetrating further into their body. But Embryo couldn't escape this pain, because the pain was already in her body, penetrating as deep as it could go. Embryo jerked her head back and screamed with everything she had in her.

When Summit heard the screaming, his heart stopped. Embryo had made it clear how horrible this experience would probably be, and he had tried to brace himself for the worst, but nothing could prepare him for the shrieking cries Embryo was giving now. It was as if she was being tortured in the most horrible way imaginable. He rushed to her side, "Em, Embryo, are you okay?" But she just kept screaming, it was like she wasn't even aware he was there. Summit had always felt sick whenever he realized torture still existed in the modern world and could be happening to any dragon even as he thought it, but never had he expected that such raw torture could exist as part of the natural world, as part of the fate for all girls destined to lay eggs. And by Embryo's reaction... Did the Universe really hate girl dragons this much?

And to Embryo, it was torture, there was no way to describe it otherwise. But even more horrifying was how distinctly this pain was her. This wasn't some observational event happening to some other dragon, this wasn't some absent process where she was aware of the agony, but could tone it out as background as she got lost in her own mind. No, she was distinctly aware of the unbearable sharpness of each and every contraction, the surmounting dread before each one from the knowledge that her body could not take it, only to be grasped into its clutches of agony anyway and know how right she was. Unbearable, unfathomable, but fully conscious of every second, every ounce of pain she endured.

"PLEASE!" She screamed, "MAKE IT STOP! LET ME GO! PLEASE!"

But no matter how much she screamed, no matter how much she begged, the contractions kept coming, one after another, each one in and of itself enough to make her wish she was dead, endless waves of pure agony which couldn't be quenched.

"PLEEEEASE!" She screamed again, but the contractions still continued. Every single scale, every single claw and nerve, there was just not enough room in her body to contain the pain she was feeling, her insides in such pain she could hardly comprehend her own existence.

This is what her whole life story had been leading toward, wasn't it? Her torture, her suffering. Everything that had ever happened to her, anything good, anything bad, all her beautiful travels with Summit, they had all just been stepping stones on her inevitable path toward this unspeakable agony of Egg Laying. Toward her writhing and screaming like there was nothing left.

Summit watched helplessly. She looked so fragile, like a vase that should have shattered long ago under the pressure, but was somehow unable to break. Summit wanted to wrap his wings around her and tell her she was okay, but he knew he couldn't, she was not okay, and there was nothing he could do about it. To hear her precious voice scream like that, to see her gentle body writhe like that, it just opened up so many emotions within himself that he had no idea how to express.

Summit's heart twisted inside him. This was true pain, wasn't it? He wasn't experiencing it himself, but it was happening right in front of him, and to Embryo at that, the one who he just now realized he cared about more than anybody else in the world.

Summit didn't want to watch, didn't want to see Embryo suffer as she was struck by wave after wave of pain. He also didn't know how he felt standing over her as she writhed in pain at his talons. Maybe it wasn't even right that he be here, he thought again. He'd tried to keep his eyes focused on her upper body til this point, but he knew that wasn't where the real suffering was happening, and he couldn't help but feel awkward at his whole position in this. He honestly wasn't sure what to do, he'd never really helped anybody before with this kind of girl stuff. He'd never been this close to any girl before in fact, and he still didn't know if his relationship with Embryo was far enough along to see her like this, but if he wasn't here for her, who else would be?

Summit looked down and noticed Embryo had calmed slightly, she was still in obvious great pain, her face still strained, but her screaming had stopped, and her eyes were no longer glazed over, and she was able to focus up on Summit. Her contractions must have slowed for the time being.

"Are you sure you want me to stay here?" Summit asked, "I can go if you feel this is too personal." He paused, not wanting to seem like he just wanted to get out of there, he didn't, he didn't want to see Embryo like this, but he wasn't about to leave her in her time of need unless she didn't want him here. "But I'll stay here if you need me."

Embryo struggled to raise her head enough for a slight nod, she didn't care any longer how awkward this scenario was, there was just her and pain and Summit, Summit the only comfort to that pain. "Stay." She rasped, "Tell me when it's almost done." Her voice was so strained, she must be in so much pain. It was as if she was still facing much more than she'd ever thought she could go through, but she now knew this was the most relief she was going to have until it was over, they closest she'd come to being able to tolerate her own body, and she had to take it as it was. Tears rolled down her face as she tried to fight off the nausea of knowing she was going to go back under again anytime soon, of knowing what she'd already been through, and would go through again.

Summit knew he couldn't say no any longer, he had to do this. He moved around to stand by Embryo's tail. He hesitated. He felt awkward putting himself on that side of Embryo, he'd wanted to avoid seeing her like this (or any girl for that matter), but he knew she needed him, and he'd be of no help if he turned away.

There was her stomach... Summit took a deep breath, he'd tried to respectfully keep his perception of Embryo to her upper half, but now in her aid, he let it go. Slowly, he let his gaze lower, to see if the egg was yet visible. He couldn't help but feel relieved by his reaction. At first he'd feared this part would make his entire being fill with too much crushiness to be much help to Embryo beyond this point. He knew she was attractive of course, and in a less urgent situation, he knew he probably wouldn't have handled it well, but now he was here solely for what Embryo needed, all other feelings were automatically pressed aside. They would surely resurface later once this was over and Summit would never be able to see Embryo the same way he once had (the way he'd tried to maintain by never having her fly in the lead, which was apparently all out the door now), but right now, he was merely here to see Embryo's progress with the egg, nothing more, nothing less.

But unfortunately, the egg was not yet visible. Embryo still had a ways to go. Summit's heart sank, Embryo's screeching cries had started back up again, and by how painful they sounded, he knew that "no egg yet" was the worst news she needed to hear right now.

"I'm sorry Em, no egg..."

But she no longer seemed conscious of his words.

Nothing more to do there, Summit repositioned himself up near her head figuring that be the best place to be there for her if she needed him, but facing down where he could still see what was going on with the egg.

"I'm sorry Embryo," he said, "You don't deserve to go through this, but you are."

He looked at her. She was in so much pain. He didn't think he could have taken it if he was her. He watched her writhe from side to side, folding in and out of herself, his heart clenched with pity. It didn't look like she could take it, and she was her.

Poor Em. She was too pretty to be in such pain.

Summit stopped himself. Was that even a proper thing to think? He sighed. What did it matter anymore? She was too pretty, too sensitive, too special to be experiencing what she was going through. But through nobody's choice, not even her own, she was going through it anyway, and there was nothing he could do to make it better, he could only watch as she screamed and writhed, unable to bare her own being.

Then suddenly, the pain stalled. Embryo let out a gasp, her writhing coming to a still, breathing in deep gasps of air, regaining her own presence in reality. She shook knowing what she'd just come out of, but she knew it wasn't over yet. Every part of her wanted to break down and cry at her own demise, but she needed to focus on what was next.

"Em? What happened?" Summit asked hurriedly, noticing the change.

Embryo reached for her lower abdomen, feeling it, talons trembling with each movement. Sweating, she tried to hold back her tears as she inspected her situation. "The egg... I think it's there."

"There?" Summit asked confused, "What do you-"

Embryo started shaking, she could feel it start straining, it didn't hurt yet, but she could feel the pain preparing to mount, threatening to be worse than ever before, just beyond the horizon of her senses. Embryo felt her breath quivering, how could this be her life?

"The egg, it's right here," she said, knowing she had to alert Summit while she still could, "It's about to be out."

Then Embryo felt it coming, the pain beginning to rise again. She began to tremble.

"The pain, it's coming again," Embryo knew she only had seconds before she was gone again, tearfully, she tried to make herself accept it.

Then, something weird. She gasped. The pain, it was... "Is the egg..." Embryo held her breath in her throat, trying to keep it steady.

Summit checked, and winced. It was too painful to even bear to see. He couldn't even imagine what Embryo was going though, and this wasn't even her at her worst. At least there was good news.

"I see it Em. The egg is on its way. You're almost done."

Embryo squirmed, shaking uncontrollably, her breathing picking up pace again. "I can tell! It hurts!" She suddenly jerked outward, "IT HURTS! IT BURNS LIKE FIRE! MY-OWWWW!"

And then it hit, worse than ever before. Non-stop, pure torture. Embryo screamed in blind pain, couldn't stop. In an instant, the Embryo who Summit had come to know and love was gone, completely consumed and delirious with pain. He knew Em was there experiencing it all, every single moment, but everything that made her unique, an individual like no other, was drowned out completely with pain, nothing existed inside her anymore but the desperation to make it stop, the need to exist within a body with which her Soul could even begin to tolerate. A need which would not be fulfilled until this was over.

Summit could no longer watch, it was just too painful. He knew that whatever he couldn't watch Embryo had to feel, but he just couldn't do it any longer. Besides, the egg was going to be done when it was done, he didn't think Embryo would even be able to comprehend any more of his reports now anyway, she was too far gone.

So Summit just listened to her screams as long as they lasted, her pain radiating into his Soul.

And suddenly it was done. Embryo let out a gasp as all came to a stop, breathing hard. She looked back at her Egg, lying on the cave floor by her back legs. Done. It was done.

Embryo was spent, utterly spent. Nothing more, with only one small whimper, she slumped onto the floor, back toward Summit, the tears that fell freely down her face accompanied by not a single cry.

Embryo just lay there curled up in her fetal position, silent, completely silent. Even long after the pain faded, and became no more than a memory, still she lay there, unmoving, just the rise and the fall of her chest as the air entered and exited slowly from her body.

And eventually, even the memory began to fade into nothing more than a numb echo in the back of her mind, but still, she did not move.

Finally, Summit came up to her, full of concern. "Em?"

Back still toward him, she finally spoke, "Is this my purpose? Is this all I'm meant for?"

And as if getting these words out had a calming effect on her, she let out a deep breath. And with that, let herself slip into a deep doze.

Summit looked at her with sympathy, and gently bent over to give her a nuzzle. It was over, her suffering was over.

"Sleep well, Em."

And she did. A deep, dark, dreamless sleep. Her old self had passed away, slipped away into the darkness of the distant past. The Embryo who awoke tomorrow would be a different Embryo, an Embryo who knew what it was like to lay an egg, who knew the pain she was capable of suffering. Who would this new Embryo be? Right now it didn't matter, right now it was time to let her rest.

Watching Embryo lay there for a moment, here chest rising and falling gently with her breath, Summit felt there was one more thing to be said, even though he knew she wasn't listening. Maybe it was still too early, but now he knew it to be true, not just romantically, but with every part of who he was. With one more gentle nuzzle, "I love you Embryo."

Then, deciding it was time for him to rest as well, he went to his own corner, laid down, and drifted off to sleep. As he faded, the words still echoed in his mind. I love you Em.