For once, there's no accusation of insincerity, no wary look of mistrust. True, false, none of that matters right now, and the only chance she has to make a change now is by the words she has all too little time to speak.

"Even so," it's the same warning as before, only emphasized by the repetition in this dream, too, "become stronger, and find a new path."

If loss breaks the princess, everything will be broken and lost.

As if the effort of these words had been too much for her, Mercury's body starts to fade; the form of the butterfly had been the last flare of her soul and being. It fades a little more, and then is gone, with nothing to mark its passing.