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Body Swap AU- Part 1

Four x GN Reader (no gendered pronouns or descriptions); (intended romantic relationship; open ending)

CW: Mention of fights and medical terms used for injuries, nothing too graphic (hopefully); I've never posted on Tumblr so this may look very messed up but I'm trying

Idea: Reader and Four are separated from the rest of the Chain and end up in a situation which leads to them being body swapped, what follows is how they try undo this situation and build their relationship.

8.4k words; not proof-read

To begin with you already knew it was going to be a difficult fight, you had all prepared yourself to the best of your ability, swords freshly sharpened, if two days ago is still fresh, and as much armour donned as time allowed for- Time in a cuirass and gauntlets but legs only protected by cloth, Hyrule who managed to equip his leather cuisse and greaves but not his tunic to cover. Lads such as Warriors and Sky were luckily donned in both their chainmail and multiple thick cloth layers, proven to be lucky when an arrow had shot straight towards them, others raised shields or dodged behind trees and those with shields themselves, whereas poor Sky was struck in the pectoral, hopefully not deep enough to reach his scapula considering he was still able to react, albeit slowly and recover to a defensive position.

Despite popular belief, these monsters were smart, infected or not. Monsters also wore a visage similar to armour and various cloths to protect themselves, however the main threat was they knew how the armour worked- plated armour was, whilst strong against many attacks, weak to slashes and bashes which could dent the armour inward and limit mobility, but good against arrows. Though in this situation, it wouldn’t matter too much if Time’s armour would be effective from arrows as his greatest weakness, even if fully donned, was his unguarded legs and fragile tendons around his joints. Chainmail was good against slashes but weak to arrows, that’s what the extra layers of thick cloth were to help against, not the arrow itself but to help decrease the penetration depth. These enemies knew and they showed that in their battle strategy. Well, what you could consider a strategy, they weren’t fully equipped with proper armour nor battle formations, but they weld good quality weapons and a vast array of them too. Archers and those with spears and crossbows approached towards those like Sky, Warriors and Wild, a larger moblin behind them, obviously meant to be the tank of the formation approaching far closer than the spearmen. On the other division of the campground, others like bokoblins marched quickly and lizalfos skittered low to the ground with larger broadswords and falchions, some weld maces, though luckily those were fewer and more scattered within the swarm. Time, despite his disadvantage and vulnerability to those with maces stood between the group and Hyrule, who was obviously more vulnerable to those with falchions, lizalfos able to move fast and low to the ground were extreme trouble once welding one handed weapons such as this. Wind, Legend and Twilight had been caught towards the edges of the camp, Wind the first who had been able to grab a weapon and buy time for others along with the latter two who had been the ones to spot the small army approaching the camp and had returned to warn the others.

At this time the group had been divided, and worse, divided to group at which they held a disadvantage. Legend and Twilight were able to push back the close ranged enemies but were, too, knocked back by those with range, spears and lizalfos spit struck through the air, gust of wind flapping off the tarps once used as tents and flickering the smoke of the smouldering campfire- others that met their mark flung Twilight’s shield from his grasp; another struck into Legend’s leg tying him with a heavy water bind, attempting to slow his movements. The two were metaphorically pinned to the edges of the campsite, backs towards their comrades and facing further into the forest, bokoblins, lizalfos and moblins instantly in a charge to surround them.

Not far away, though too far when in a battle to be able to provide support, was Time, Hyrule and Wind who had been earlier flung at the initial surge whilst attempting to reach his boomerang that had been pulled from his belt. Time stuck in a belt saw motion, his torso circling forwards and backwards with his feet taking small steps forward and hurried small jumps back, was attempting to disarm a trio of lizalfos, which too, joined his dance of forwards and backwards, all awaiting an opportunity for the other to slip, to make a mistake, an opening- currently it remained a tie, Time unable to properly swing his great-sword, both hands clasped on the handle but no space to unleash an arched swing. Small and restrained gabs and twists of his sword were not enough to knock back the monsters, especially those so quick and agile. Such close quarters fighting too limited Hyrule’s arsenal abilities, magic flickered between his fingers and along his blade, a lightning strike from above was not an option with his brothers so close to the targets, however, small stabs and jabs into the clumped crowds and connected enemies allowed a good distraction for the larger enemies as electricity licked between them and grabbed between close bodies, buckles and weapons; a more deadly voltage for smaller creatures. Wind though, held an advantage, his smaller frame darting between enemies, aware of the sharp flashes of light between clustered formed by Hyrule he kept his distance, but sashed around larger enemies, those with less agility and dexterity, less able to easily grab him. Wind repeatedly slashed at the legs and backs of larger enemies such as moblins and refrained from deeper piercing stabs, not willing to risk his shorter blade becoming stuck between the skin, cloths or simply slicked with the blackened blood of the enemy and losing his weapon. Roars of moblins grumbled and rattled loud across the field, bulging and skewed lizalfos eyes darting between both Time and the source of the sound allowing the former opening needed. A swing of a great-sword slashing through the air so smooth and swift left a trail of hazed white through the air, practically splitting each particle, and splattered red and black among the crowd and glittered onto the forest floor.

Warriors, Hyrule and Wild used a tree for coverage, arrows aimed in only their direction, larger monsters filling the sights of the archers slimming their open view to the trio. Arrows flew, some cut short with an untaught string flying too low into the ground, others, quite literally cut short, slashed and broken among the stomping of feet, cracked and splintered by metal plated shields. Sky guarded his chest with his shield and used it to bash away and stray enemies which tried approach the opposite side of the large tree though most avoided such a fate either through being struck by their own archer’s shower of arrows or being smart enough to avoid that quadrant of the now muddied and bloodied outcrop. Warriors and Wild were both the offensive force using a long bow and his borrowed fire rod from Legend by both Wild and Warriors respectively.

Importantly it was one part of this battle that summoned an unexpected change. The dirt became loose and a black mud of blood and crushed grass. Arrows laid cracked or deeply embedded within the ground, those not embedded upright later partially buried within the mud. Purple mist and larger shards of skin and bone flittered through the air, some dusted upon the floor, others drifting within the movement of bodies and the lightest breeze.

It was this breeze that was different- a slight crackle of electricity, not unlike that of an approaching storm or cold hands on warm skin and tussled textured blankets. This electricity wasn’t coming from Hyrule’s magic like one would think, instead it was focused with a small halo spun and woven above the group. Arrows slowed as a golden powder fell from above, warm and sharp on one’s skin, however the melee assault continued, less monsters still standing but those remaining filled with energy and an untapped blood lust. Woven threats shot skyward, pulled taught with energy and coiled into the coned cloak and small hooked feet of a wizzrobe.

An electric wizzrobe? No, that didn’t seem right- the cloak itself held a blue sheen along the white and gold fabric, almost hovering as if it wasn’t apart of the threads themselves but an extra layer, one not of cloth.

Even stranger was that the being continued to skip and hop above rings of gold and flickering sparkles or energy, skipping towards the edge of the forest and over the arrow littered quadrant and away from the heroes engaged in battle.

Sky hidden behind his shield, slightly learned towards the outer bark of the tree, scraped and torn from sharpened metal to watch the new monster. Arrows continued but in far smaller numbers. He looked from the wizzrobe towards the firing line and saw that the issue wasn’t a lack of arrows, if anything the bundles by their ankles showed far from otherwise; instead they too were watching the wizzrobe. The other heroes were close to finishing off the melee participants, it wouldn’t be long until the archers were attacked front on and defeated- so why were they not giving their all and now firing at the exposed heroes along the entire field? Sky looked on further, scanning the field: Twilight and Legend who had finally managed to join the other group. Twilight with a gash through his thigh too close to his knee, Legend scratched and bruises littering his face and legs, but healing and defensive rings doing their job to prevent and minor slashes, Time who’s trousers and armour were too covered in blood to see any wounds, Hyrule face flushed and panting from magic use, his fingers a greyed blue; then Wind, hobbling on a slashed leg with a deep pulsing gash through his gastrocnemius muscles which would definitely take a few months of therapy to be fully “right” again and smaller tears at his lower arms.

Where were you and Four?

To answer that, although unknown to Sky, you both were in the exact direction the wizzrobe had hopped and skipped with a taunt grin of teeth and twisted leather skin under a veil of fabric.

-

You’d been pushed back and herded by monsters, you knew this, the smooth movement of the herd interrupted by jagged bodily actions perking and prodding at your base instincts to avoid the danger in front of you. A tight but thin circle of bokoblins and keese circling above wouldn’t have been the biggest threat to you with Four by your side- you were new to this world still, even if some may believe you should have adapted more to the constant prickle of danger and lurking threats within your 6 months of being in this world. The true threat to your small duo (unknown sextet, or hexad if you prefer) was a large lynel at the opening of the hearding circle, although, strangely, it wasn’t attacking you, not with it’s full might at least, it had previously lurched forward and swiped at Four, awarding a nasty headwound for attempting to create an opening for you both.

A failed attempt of using his fire rod to create a fire wall, merely a distraction and cover from the lynel, to then rush past the opening between it’s horse body and the nearest bokoblin. The fire wall was cast perfectly, thick and with slow movement towards the lynel itself to push it back but avoid sudden movements or bucking from the horse legs which may have hit you if you ran through the already small gap. Instead, it was too effective and the lynel too smart, as soon as the wall was cast the lynel stayed in position at the head of the circle and, as planned, moved to the side to see around the wall, however, despite it’s hulking size, it was fast, extremely fast and had positioned itself turned at an angle away from the wall giving more time and opportunity to grab Four as he swiped at the bokoblin. His sword has not even had a chance to form an arc nor thrust forward, instead it was violently tugged backward in defeat, still clasped tightly in his left hand from the force of the lynel’s blow.

Dark red melted into the white of his complexion, face void of colour aside from a thick ribbon of blood along the entire right side of his face melding to his skin, filling the lines by his eyes and slightly straying horizontally across his forehead as his face was scrunched in pain. You locked your hands tight around his biceps and had to place pressure on your spine and wrists to try pull him upwards, quickly you removed one hand and swooped an arm to curl around his back and under his armpit, a hand, again, curled with ashen knuckles from strain of gripping onto the dampened fabric. The blood was damp lower down his torso by his diaphragm, and soaked thick into the green cotton and golden embroidery. That stain probably wasn’t going to be easy to come out.

A silly thought that quickly passed your eyes in the gale winds of stress and heat building under your collar. Four would have to be okay to even worry about that; you’d both have to be okay- it seemed far too delusional to say that it would be okay.

What brought you back was the lynel’s gravely grumble, not a roar nor thrust of a blade, it was standing still. Static and a faint heat entered the air, a heat already there associated with the pounding of your heart and laboured breathes, but now able to be noticed alongside the crackle in the trees.

Another crackle, accompanied by an awful popping sound, like cracking joints; then a flurry of golden dust breezed past. Halo, curl, twirl, pop and pop. Breeze and repeat; breeze and repeat.

With a final pop, echoed around you like you were surrounded- even though you were- a golden halo pulled into taunt strings, and before you a wizzrobe appeared, face gaunt and speckled black, like the blackened blood was trying to spill from it’s pours. Over it bounced, light on the air and over the ring of bokoblins and keese, pitter pattering around the stationary lynel and coming to a twirled stop about six paces before you both.

It didn’t speak, nor make any vocal sound, just another pop of trapped nitrogen.

Until it did.

A garbled, wet, gurgling noisy emitted from low in it’s throat, within those few seconds you swore you saw a small cluster of bubbles pop at it’s curved mouth corners running slightly down the arch and unguided by any facial fat or structure. The wizzrobe let out another gargle, like it was drowning, and began to take tiny, pointed steps towards you. Sudden and with a flourish of expanding it’s cloak, the wizzrobe lurched forward, no ranged spell or attack, it simply flung itself forward- it was heavy.

Attempting to spin with the momentum to throw it off and shaking your body as much as possible without dropping the slumped man in your arms, eyes fluttering open with pupils blown varying sizes. Four in his unaware state managed to push the creature harder than you, despite his condition; with that it fell upon you both, no longer holding itself up. The monster was heavy upon you both, grasping and clawing at your clothes, ash fingers returning red from Four’s clothes. Dark spittle flew at you, turning your head to the side in an attempt to avoid the fluid that was freckled along your cheeks in a dirty unfound constellation of power and that same crackling heat. For minutes the fight, more like a floor-bound scuttle, continued, hands and bone sharpened claws flying towards eyes and plush skin- until it stopped. It stopped, with and unknown reason and lied limp, face almost fully black of spilled ink and black blood with eyes bulging and unfocused.

It was with great delay, that with a thrum and a crack of the wind that it flattened into loose fabric and began to unravel and boil, evaporating into a purple mist of small blue shards and purple power. Remaining low to the ground held in a low crab walk from mental and partially physical exhaustion, your elbows buckled, landing your back to the soil; it would be no time at all for the other monsters to approach, keese to knock you flat and the lynel to land the final blow to you both, that or maybe it would watch the bokoblins slowly beat you both to death.

No noise came: no footsteps, grunts, squawks nor flapping wings; even the air had gone still and stale with the dry electricity of the remaining shards lingering in the air.

Looking around, there were no monsters, yet you never saw nor heard them leave, yes, you’d been in a scrap with the wizzrobe, but you’ve have heard a small horde of monsters leaving or seen from the flashes of your surroundings given during your fight. There were no monsters- they wouldn’t have left without confirmation of your death, a Hero of Hyrule especially was not just left concussed. You truly would have looked around more, or tried to think more, but the heat in the air lingered, dry in your lungs and throat, and… you passed out…

-

At first, it didn’t feel like you were waking up, it was more a violent thunder in your chest and a hook pulling your head towards the floor; heart beating strong and loud behind your eyes and echoing in your temples. Your limbs felt wrong and hard to describe, heavy lead bones but static skin pulled and separated from the muscle beneath. The left hand smooshed and twisted against the floor, though not broken, wrist cramping and arm numb above the elbow, nerves pulsing from the ulnar to the tips of the fingers; the right static from the pressure of the torso- your body felt so separate from you within.

Pushing from the knees and twisting your torso, you attempted to push yourself upwards from the cold floor, the chipped and dry texture pressing uncomfortably into your cheeks and nose making breathing more laboured, any attempts from your mouth were dry and coated your throat with a fine powdered dust. Another attempt to push yourself up felt like it was assisted this time, strength pulled from your abdomen and twisted in your chest, another twist and pull, knees locked, and feet planted you managed to roll yourself onto a shaking elbow and splayed numb hand.

Finally, you peeled open your eyes, one easier to open that the other, a thin crust clumping your eyelashes. The area you were in was dark, not helped that your right eye was partially obstructed so you, aware your arms were still weak, leant forward onto your left forearm and wiped and grabbed at your eyelashes with your right, slightly wobbly, the metaphorical hook in your head still pulling. The floor felt cold and almost smooth, small cracks and rocks now joined by a small littering of dark brown clumps and a few loose eyelashes- you shouldn’t have been able to see them with the low lighting, a soft unknown glow emanating from an unknown area, like the middle of the room itself had an energy emanating; with that you pushed back with the strength left in your arms and sat back on your haunches, knees lightly spread to assist balance.

“Four?” Your words slightly slurred, luckily not from injury but exhaustion- you heard no response, so tried again, “Four, are you okay?”

A small shuffle sounded from across the room, you were now sure it was a room, what seemed to be dirty stone floors and that slight echoed reverberation of a sound in an empty room which, along with the fatigue, distorted your voice. Slowly, partially from caution, mostly from a lack of ability to move normally, you shuffled towards the sound, what you assumed to be Four. Logic told you that if there were any enemies in this area that they would’ve been much louder, far from a quiet shuffle and much less reserved as to not approach you as soon as you spoke. Still slow, but gaining a new confidence of how effective certain movements where you continued forward, palms flat on the floor, fingers slightly curled, and using your knees with the momentum of your swaying torso to propel forwards, stopping every few paces to avoid teetering forward too far and falling to the stone once again.

You called again, this time receiving a weak call of your name in return. Shuffling further and slightly faster teetering too far to the side, almost falling in your haste, you finally arrived close enough to the weak voice to hear the puffed words “where are we; where are the others?” You couldn’t respond. Instead, you swept a hand out to your right, ensuring to stay within a 45 degree angle of your torso to catch yourself if needed. You swept again, another pace forward, sweeping left to tight until you felt a mass, a body. You felt the woven cotton and a silky overlayer, a singular thicker belt around the waist, until you felt another strap, a thinner sternum strap, one used to carry a bag- Four didn’t wear a sternum strap, he wore a separate tied backpack for easier access to his scabbard, less chance of getting caught and tying his sword, he said once before- Four wore a Sam Browne belt. You called his name again, much less confident, your apprehension able to be easily plucked from your words; then you whispered for others “Wind? Hyrule?” They were the only ones you could think to wear a bag strap.

Instead, your initial call was confirmed, Four replied to you, voice still twisted, light and echoed along the walls, whispering back behind you like a phantom crowd “I’m here, hold on, I should have a light”, further small shuffles, the patting of leather and ruffle of cloth “do you have my fire rod?”

Like instinct, or the pulling of your phantom audience, your hand gravitated to your belt and wrapped easily around the broad handle of a fire rod, hooked nice and proper within a leather notch. Without words you handed over the item, no idea of why you would even have it, you didn’t remember him giving it to you, nor could you even remember having any hoops nor coils along your belt.

Answers were given quite quickly.

No sputter nor hiss or a flame was needed when the rod was within Four’s grasp, instead the gem of the fire rod lit up slowly as to not overwhelm either of your adjusting eyes. If you could delude yourself you would try convince yourself you were still adjusting- perhaps your cornea was scratched from dust, a painful injury but would effect your vision, perhaps you’d unknowingly hit your head in your previous tumble with the wizzrobe and were having visual hallucinations, or maybe it wasn’t your head trauma you were experiencing, but Four’s.

Before you, laid back on a singular elbow, pushing themselves to sit straight, their left hand firmly grasped around the fire rod’s handle, was you. At least what looked like you.

All you could do was stare, thoughts going through your head, some not even your own “are they okay?” came a voice within your own head, it possessed that feeling of disembodiment, a voice unaffected by the environment nor volume changing with their words “were they injured, I can’t remember after that stupid lynel attack?”

“Who’re you?” I asked aloud. My own eyes moved up to meet my own, suddenly widening as they met my own, met my body’s eyes. Unknown to either of them nor the voice the question was meant to be for the latter.

They spoke my name, the person before me, I didn’t answer, instead I looked down at myself, looked down at Four’s tunic, the green soaked with blood, their white leggings somehow untouched by blood nor dirt from the forest and reached to touch my head, his head, the blood now clotted and run dry. Two voices entered the conversation at a similar time, their words mixing together.

“The others aren’t answering, was the head wound that bad? Hopefully they’ll return soon I feel all fuzzy, like I can’t come forward fully to pilot.”

“What’s happening? You’re not Shadow,” their head dropped so fast, chin to their chest, their words perking the attention of the other voice too “why am I you, why are you me? What’s happening?”

“Shadow, what are they talking about, how do they know about--?”

I tuned them both out. I tried to make sense of it all: I was in front of myself, I looked like Four from what I could see and now there was a voice that I didn’t recognise, the deep baritone continuing to question.

“The wizzrobe,” I whispered, recognising the low honeyed voice that emitted from my chest “it did something to us, it didn’t attack normally though, no magic, not normally at least.” He paused. Four, it was hard to look at my own reflection and call him that at first, began to take deep breathes and his eyes unfocused as if deep in thought, then he agreed. Possible theories began to fall from his lips, occasionally interrupted by his own criticisms of logic or herding his own ramblings.

Only when I asked a strange question, one which, like the strength within my core, didn’t feel like my own. My lips moved and tongue curled words forced from between until I relaxed my shoulders, the words pronounced smoother but still with an audible strain, like I was struggling to breathe, “are the colours okay?”

“Colours?” I asked myself, more relaxed yet still breathless, the word falling easier in exhaustion.

It was Four who replied, albeit after a long pause, not the voice from within, beginning with a questioning twist to his face only to relax with clouded eyes and snap back to a strained horror “Blue?”

“I’m here, tell them I’m here” spoke the voice, Blue, Blue spoke to me soft and reserved, exhaustion and emotion sat heavy in my chest, I could practically see a man within my imagination, Four in a different coloured garb, a longer tunic, split down the left side and an extra belt wrapped above the usual, high on his waist, his head turned away. I fulfilled his request, and with that Four relaxed physically, shoulders drooping, body partially slumped and head falling forward; then he began to cry. Small tears welled in his eyes, only a few falling along his cheeks, trapped within the curve of his nose and dripping down into the crevice along the corners of his lips.

Despite the confusion I was still filled with empathy, wishing to reach a hand to them both, but was only able to reach out to Four physically, with choked words he spoke again, more of a ramble than a cohesive explanation. “I, gosh, it wasn’t meant to be explained like this, it wasn’t meant to,” he ran his hands across his face “during my adventure, you know I forged the Four Sword, forged from the broken Picori blade using elemental stones from across Hyrule. It started as projections, magical projections of myself that I could work alongside for short periods, within dungeons mostly; then it evolved, I harnessed those elements again after facing Vaati the first time” I refrained from asking about those specific words, the first time “and when I drew the blade from it’s seal it became the Four Sword, well, not became, it already was, I don’t know what to say, but we became how we are”

“We?” was the only thing I could say, not wanting to break his explanation considering his current struggle.

“Yes,” he laughed, soft and full of tears “we. My brothers and I. Four is us combined, he holds his separate being, but we are there with him, not at the front but we are till there for him, like a conscious voice that you may have, just more of us. We separated are Vio, Blue, Green and Red, though not necessarily in that order,” he laughed again, more heartfelt this time “you currently have Blue”

Without a pause of doubt nor embarrassment, possibly from the mental load of the information provided or just a subconscious expectation planted as a child to be polite, I spoke out loud, eyes slightly lowered away from Four’s, this was for Blue “well, at least it’s nice to meet you now, even if like this,” a nervous laugh as Four looked at me “hello Blue, but also, hello to you all, I’ll look after him, don’t worry.” You did feel a bit stupid but were set in what you’d said, you’d look after Blue, they must be terrified being separated like this, even if it would seem that Blue takes more care of you than the former. You let out a small gasp and exclamation of understanding, the sound reverberated back at you “your head, you hit your head, maybe that’s why Blue got stuck behind?”

Another exclamation, this time of approval and fellow understanding “you might be right” from the now known trio before you and with that an unseen but understood nod within your head completed the quartet. Well, it wasn’t really a quartet, with you it could be a quintet, though no, you were going further, there were six of you that you now knew or hoped to know.

“So, Shadow? When do I get to meet him, is he here?”

“Well,” his eyes flickered back and forth, an occasional pause between his words as if another was interrupting or adding to his sentence, “he is here, however just not the same way.”

“Not like Blue, nor the colours?” You added.

“No,” he shook his head in confidence “he’s more like, well, like that,” he chuckled, voice slightly lower with a hand thrown up casually and a single finger pointed towards your legs; pointed towards your actual shadow.

“I now see the naming theme,” you teased as a slightly white, almost grey arch stretched across the head of the shadow on the floor, a pair or smaller crevices also forming higher on the face- was he laughing? “Hello, Shadow,” you laughed as well, lifting your hand though angled towards your shadow in a mock handshake as you bobbed up and down slightly “lovely to meet you, sir” you finished with a dramatic bow of your head.

Light laughter filled the room, a lighter atmosphere wrapped tight and protected in the orange light of the fire rod- but heroes never get peace; in this situation you also aren’t given peace as a sharp screech pierces from another area, colliding with stone walls and bouncing needles into the room you were all in. Four managed to react in a quick spin, crouched and poised towards a thin, previously unseen corridor- the opening was so thin you both would have to traverse through sideways. At least that was when you were able to move properly, your bones remained heavy and skin a detached static, with a few moments of sluggish movements you felt cold coil around your ankle- Shadow was holding you, two small circles watching you, no mouth to be seen now.

“Are you okay? We should get moving” Blue asked, concern only slightly masked with heroic efficiency. Unsure if it would work I spoke within my own head, thinking and hoping he’d hear it, I spoke about my struggles to mobilise properly, that I felt detached and like I wasn’t fully able to move our body; with that thought I asked for his help, after all this was our body now, thinking back to the strength I felt previous in my abdomen. After silent pondering Blue understood, the previous feeling of a phantom audience looming behind me was pulled away, string pulled taught as they looped through my arms and fingers, coiling around my legs and straightening my spine- it was like I’d been pushed forward and replaced into proper fitting clothes, Blue’s arms solid and strong around my ribs holding me steady. My strength returned in the same sensation of being relieved of a bad episode of pins and needles, yet a slight static remained on the edges of my skin, like I’d slip back within myself.

If we had the choice, we would have been smart and stayed in the room, possibly it would have done us harm and kept us cornered, on the other hand, maybe we would have remained safe and hidden from any danger, the small opening not allowing danger to follow. However, we had no choice- if we remained in the room in our current situation we’d die from dehydration, only my bag strapped to Four’s hip and only two water canisters within, that or we’d starve, I didn’t carry any food rations but we’d last at least a couple weeks if we avoided monsters, any danger would be our end, too weak to fight.

Locking our knees and pushing up with our hands and back we stood tall, back a little too straight and hands loose by our sides but we were managing to move much more efficiently. Together we all moved forwards- Shadow stretching across the floor as far as the light of the fire rod would allow, guarding and searching in case of a nearby threat, with his retreat up the wall as slight wisp of his torso, Four and I advanced forward towards the corridor, if not for the perfect corners and smooth sides of the stone it’s be considered more of a crevasse without the ice sheet, or a fissure within a rock. Stepping sideways, running our backs against the wall and chests almost brushing the other side, we continued. Due to the small size of the opening Four had to keep his sword sheathed, the blade safely cradled within the scabbard upon my back.

Emerging from the wall I unsheathed the four sword, tilting the handle towards Four, the blade itself lightly grazing the floor, the weight not something I know to expect but Blue supporting me and Four’s usual bodily strength compensating from years of swordsmanship. Four grabbed the blade from me, the handle slipping into his grip only to clang onto the floor, he maintained his hold on the hilt, but the blade fell, kissing the floor with sharpened teeth.

With a grunt he said “geez, this has never been so heavy, it’s like being a page again”, at least as a squire, back then he carried equipment often, he had the strength needed but in this body his wrists were strained and biceps compensating for his lack of brachioradialis and superficialis muscle strength in his forearms. “Here,” he tried to hand the sword back to me “you’ll have to wield it, I don’t have the strength, you go melee, and I’ll cover you with my fire rod.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll show you the form to use, you just focus on speed and power, we’ll do this together” Blue reassured me, and ironically the other colours echoed a similar sentiment “Blue, are you able to pull yourself forward?”

Reassurance emanated from us both, explaining we were working together “it’s almost like wearing the same clothes- like a partial split” can an additional comment, unlike before it didn’t feel forced, I was so relaxed and accepting of Blue that it was almost as if I spoke myself despite knowing otherwise. Four nodded in understanding.

“If I could protect you I would, which is why I’ll be right by your side, okay? I may not be able to wield my sword, but I can use my magic to guard us both,” he reassured “a hero’s duty” he added quickly, eyes flickering.

I could feel Blue grinning but with a look that didn’t match within his eyes “Hero’s duty includes going and seeing what that sound was, right, guys?” Shadow flickered on the floor, bouncing between Four and I’s feet. It felt wrong to call him Four at the moment considering it was technically Vio, Green and Red, but that was also a bit too much “may I call you Opal? You know, reflects different colours and rainbows from one piece, it doesn’t feel right calling you Four, it’s like excluding Blue yet also, not like I’m seeing you three, you know?” I plucked at Four’s hair in a slight anxious shame, easy to play with laid by his pointed ears awaiting possible judgement.

With a grin they clasped a hand around my shoulder, lightly squeezed and turned so we could begin traversing the rest of this area we had entered, and to find the source of the noise- a strange but accepting acknowledgement.

Another shrill shriek echoed beyond the veil of darkness, the glow of the fire rod remained a safe blanket, encasing you both in warmth and safety, yet simultaneously limited your visual range, the danger hidden in the darkness beyond, not yet revealed by the light.

Thumping, but not heavy, footsteps continued to echo from what seemed another room over. The group continued on, the walls no longer parallel, turning outwards to welcome a large room, the fire rod’s light no longer reaching the sides. Opal stopped and increased their magic input into the gem, a small sputter of fire released from the flashed increase of heat and magic, another small flame flickered, more controlled but still hovering around the gem- anymore energy and it’d definitely burst forth into a hazardous fountain. With each flutter and burst of flames the aura of light dilated and constricted, like it was breathing. Then we saw a silhouette, then three, then five; only one of the figures was moving, very small thumping steps, hardly moving even a foots worth of distance. The figures were tall and lanky, extremely thin legs, longer than their torso which puffed out into a fat oval, thick arms also protruding hanging low to the knobbles of their knees at their sides. It’s head turned slowly wrapped and constricted in bandages and what seemed like tight leather skin, pulling taut like paralysed muscles and uncut burn scars- the creature looked like it was struggling to move.

Then with a piercing screech the fire rod light went out.

I couldn’t move, Opal made no sound, and neither could I but Blue immediately began to plan- we couldn’t move not due to fear but because our muscles were locked and pain flooded as if the muscles themselves were torn- as soon as we felt we could move we needed to position ourselves and our sword.

The fire rod burst to life again, all magic flow returning at once creating a full burst of flames, they ran and fluttered away from the main stream, getting closer to another creature, that no too began to turn towards us. With each shriek the light burst in and out, the lights flashing, vision obstructed, and eyes dilated too far, it was from darkness to blinding light.

The creature kept getting closer, each moment of movement allowed Blue to enter a defensive stance, the plan changed from offensive to defensive considering it’s unlikely we could have time to attack when the monster had the ability to paralyse us. Oddly enough, he entered what he called a “fool’s stance”, not directly ready to attack but allowing for a strong counterattack if the creature came too close. He remained in a resting guard as the creature shuffled forward, no longer screeching, perhaps thinking we were still paralysed or defenceless- if it could think that far at all, we wouldn’t know. Seven paces away it lurked, body flung forward and legs lagging behind, one leg stretched forward and straight whilst the other bent to provide power to the attack. In that moment, Blue struck, quickly raising the sword in a long point guard, he pushed the hilt upwards and used his back leg too to offer the same power.

Thrust forward he stabbed the sword deep through the torso of the monster, blade sliding through the thin bandages and rotten leather easily, the blade caught among the breastbone and ribs twisting and turning to gain leverage, and air pocket between and a snap of bones freed the blade once again, using the momentum of pulling to place his leg forward and band backwards, creating just enough distance to avoid it’s flailing claws. The distance allowed another swift slash aimed higher this time, aimed towards the throat. A swift slash, a leap forward and another bend backwards; the creatures head fell to the ground.

Simultaneously as our enemy began to turn to dust the others approached, one awoken from the fire rod much closer than the others and approach deceivingly quickly. Opal was already prepared, a molten blast shot straight to it’s target, the creature was undeterred but still effected, the bandages were alight, returning the attack, licking and clawing at the skin beneath, at least what skin remained. Leather skin remained resistant to the lighter flames on the bandages, but with another direct blast began to melt, the epidermis gave way to the dermis, the vulnerable skin and fat beneath melting and bubbling within.

The monster continued on, fat bubbling within the torso and legs creaking with pops of nitrogen, small shuffles becoming staggered strides as skin gave way to movement as it sagged and peeled away. Fat burning fed the fire, the heat increasing as remaining skin began to ash and crisp, subcutaneous tissue and muscle exposed and blackened. Bones revealed yet it continued on, lurched at Opal yet far too weak, magic or not, with an almost non-existent muscle mass, easily pushed away and skull stomped beneath the weight of a heavy boot and body weight, cracks and crunches echoed out, shards and ash sprayed across the floor.

Three more of the creatures approached.

Opal prepared themselves and began to circle the fire rod, flames and sparks danced above us circling in a close distance, a partial barrier but ready for a charged attack- just enough energy to guide their direction and maintain a weak barrier, even if all magic flow was stopped during the enemy’s screeched attack. Blue, close to Opal’s side yet slightly in front, on a diagonal at the right-hand side so as to not block either man’s range of motion. Entering us into a high vom tag stance I focused on placing my body weight and energy into the oncoming swing, the sword placed high above our heads maintaining leverage, but we had to time the strike correctly, if not the position would tire us out too quickly.

Two approached from the left, another from the right; two shrieked. The fire barrier maintained itself although quite weak, one from the left and another from the right began to herd themselves to the middle of the barrier, the second from the left continued forward, passing through weakened fire. Another bright blaze from Opal and a quick position change from Blue, my arms felt like pure static, I wasn’t holding the blade and I was beginning to slip, less energy each second; Blue was having to carry me too much, he was forced forward so far that there wasn’t room for us both.

With a spike of static and stabbing pain of needles and peeled skin, we swung the blade in a downward arc, the blazing monster staggered back and tilted to the side, only to continue forward. I pulled our legs back, our torso slightly keeled forward, Blue’s grip on the sword turning our knuckles white but the blade drooped with us.

Opal leapt forward, danger literally hovering too close, he had to either maintain the barrier to keep the other two away or attack the creature closest and allow the others to advance.

The spinning wall of fire grew thicker, orange bursting out from the coil, flickering towards the cloth drapes of the two figures, bone thin legs shuffling back and forth, heavy torsos leaning forward towards the fire. Their torsos twist back, shoulders tilting their bodies, their legs remained straight but their upper bodies slumped sideways, chest faced forward to the flames, but bodies creased at the hip, the jutted bone of their pelvis shifting the lower rib beneath the skin. One let out a scream, pitched lower with a grating hollow bass, diaphragm, or whatever was inside squished between ribs and pushed forward into an extended abdomen by the pelvis.

The noise sent a chill through Opal’s body, down the muscles of their back and looped around under their arms to radiate through their chest then tingling into their arms at rapid speed. Luckily for the group the altered pitch and volume of the scream avoided the previous paralysis effect, Opal shivered again, despite the sweltering heat of the fire ring around them- the creatures were watching.

The previous two defeated monsters showed no signs of black blood, though they didn’t seem to show much sign of anything, one slashed and headless with another burnt to ash; it showed they had muscle and skin layers, bone and most likely organs beneath that too thick skin, but no blood, none they’d seen.

They kept staring. Black, wide iris, no white of the sclera to be seen within deep, deep sunk eyes- the eyes were so deep it almost seemed like not only did they have no nose cartilage, that was clear to see, but that the nasal and lacrimal bones were gone or damaged, or perhaps the shadows simply fell too deep defying the bright flame before them. They weren’t that delusional; the thought wasn’t even comforting. Did they know something? The monsters from the forest had seemed smarter than usual, but Four had attributed that to them being black blooded- these monsters weren’t showing outwards signs of intelligence, per say, but they were acting different; it would’ve been far too easy to paralyse you both, not at the start of the fight, you’d been even numbered with a delay to one of the enemies, but now they could’ve paralysed you both and attacked.

Nothing felt right, something was deeply wrong, and it didn’t help that he was stuck maintaining the barrier whilst you and Blue were struggling.

Towards the other side of the circle, you and Blue continued to maintain yourselves. Four’s body didn’t lean any further forward than previous, you no longer felt your skin, the static layer completely fizzled out, yet you still felt the digging of his thick buckle jabbed into your stomach, only a slight roll of fat protected the metal from sliding into the curve of your breastbone. If you could be more concerned, you’d have unlocked your knees, the risk of restricting blood flow to your head too dangerous of a prospect during a fight, but right now it was only your locked knees that prevented you both from buckling to the floor- an even worse scenario.

Blue yelled in your head, more a cry of concern and stress than anger, “are you okay? I feel you slipping backwards but I still can’t take full control, what’s happening?”

He tried step back, dragging their legs in sluggish movements tied down by another’s feet, strings not taught but loose and wrapping around, tying your ankles together. He called your name again, more desperate and rising in volume shouting over the gap of your detachment.

“I’m okay,” you slurred out loud, Opal’s fingers twitched in you direction unable to look over and break focus, “I can’t feel our hands, or arms,” you continued adding on small areas of concern “just need to focus, the flashing light disorientated me a bit too much.” It wasn’t really an excuse but a reason, or, well, maybe a slight excuse, you felt like you were reassuring yourself rather than responding.

The body fought with you, mentally dizzy and being pulled side to side, gravity strong against your conscience. You struggled to feel anything, at times you’d get a hint at the cold static and muscle torn numbness from before only to lose the sensation again. Waves pounded back and forth, pins pushed in and out, energy struggling to return to your limbs. With great effort, you pulled out the metaphorical needles from your skin, knuckles white and joints stiff, strings looped and pulled, all tangled and knotted, you threat the needle, thick and blunt and forced it through your skin. Elastin and collagen separated, cells giving way, skin pooled around the edges, pulled taught at the point, until it gave way. Threadbare string tore past, electricity coiled again, your fingers puppeteer inwards, nails pushed into your palms.

The creature stood above your bent form, eyes unseeing, yet so aware, staring through a fogged glass. Sharpened bones raised, fingers craned with an arm hung low, and swung outwards.

Claws grated across the floor, deepening grooves within the stone, pebbles hopping away. It wasn’t a flash of light but more of a reflection, glass shards flickered bright on the floor a deep red in the blackened scry. Shadow flickered across the floor, pulled thin and swung violently with the twist and turn of the fire rod, the shadows should have doubled, one darker behind us and another split to the side following the rod’s gleam, but Shadow himself remained unwavering, his form moved and constricted in different ways, his dark presence remained unchanged.

With another shock of energy, strings frayed and knotted, you pulled taught and united. It lacked power, but with the assistance of Shadow the monster fell low to the ground, still hunched and clawing at the man in the shadows. Sword held over your shoulder, blade held at a diagonal, slumping slightly backwards rather than straight, you released control of your body weight to gravity, feet planted firm and back bolted, the sword arched forward and cleaved into the creature’s shoulder. With this revelation Opal released the barrier, a charged fountain of magic constricting around the two remaining monsters, fire burning bright, a deep glow remained within the gem of the fire rod, magic depleted from Opal’s body, yet the gem remained bright with the forged heat of a newly formed blade. Dark hands clawed at the face of the one on the floor, skin falling in ribbons and burning into purple dust among all three. Our own trio moved slowly around the walking fire pillars, slow shuffles and emanating dust, until they fell, far from our retreating feet.

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Thank for reading, all feedback is welcome, have a fun fact about the story for your troubles:

The story was originally meant to have Four and Reader separated and focus first on the bond between Reader, Shadow and Blue which would have then opened the next step of a relationship with Four overall- learn and bond from within approach

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