Confusing, yet brilliant.

The story made my head hurt, but in a good way.
Bonus points for quoting Kant.

Thank you for sharing such a wonderfully written and thought out piece. I love the parallels and you flowed smoothly between the two universes.

I really enjoyed this, and can't believe that more people haven't reviewed it. It works well either as two interrelated stories, or as a beautiful piece of philosophical meta.

Lovely.

And I'm showing off the limerick ASAP :)

Thank you.

I didn't write the limerick, though.

Great synchronicity. The limerick was hilarious (and fitting), as well.

What were the other stories you referenced at the end? Narnia I recognized, but the rest I'm not sure that I picked up on.

Also, have you seen/read the Neverending Story? Wasn't sure whether it was a direct reference or just a convenient phrase.

Either way, two thumbs up.

Thank you!

The limerick is one of those great things philosophers like to pass around to each other.

As for the references, they can be interpreted as referring to any number of characters, but the ones I had in mind were:

A rebel princess is captured by the dark agent of an evil empire = Princess Leia (Star Wars)

The empress of a dying world fights sickness as she hopes against hope that a young boy from another world can save her people = Childlike Empress (Neverending Story, which I think answers your question about that)

A scientist investigates an alien invasion = Dana Scully (X-Files)

Two children weep over a murdered lion = Susan and Lucy Pevensie (Narnia)

A starship captain takes up arms to defend her ship = Kathryn Janeway (Star Trek: Voyager)

A woman dressed in man's armor stands between her dying uncle and a manifestation of darkness which is no longer a man = Eowyn (LotR)