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[A: 6 C: 119] - The One Betwixt

(Petronillé)

(You're not sure why or how, but despite what you all just went through, you found the strength to move forward. Despite the weight of an unconscious Ramos, something compelled you to keep going. Despite the inviting comforts of the rooms you moved through, you didn't want to stop, and neither did your friends.)

*Just a little bit more.

(Each room passed by in a daze. First was a children's room, lavish and rich. Next was a camp set up next to a wagon, and after that, was a dormitory. Mirabelle recognized this dormitory, it was one of the ones at the House of Change.)

*It’s not far now.

(Next was a cabin on a ship, with a sway to it that was uncomfortable to you. The scene made you sick, and dared you to scream. It dared you to run. Next was the dorm room you'd just gone through, one that dared you to doubt you're making progress at all.)

*I know it hurts, but you’re doing so well.

(Next was a camp, uncanny in its homeyness, yet it wailed in a longing you could not place. The feeling continued, from one home to another, the warmth now taken, the comfort made uncomfortable.)

*One more step.

(You push open a door, and enter a room that, for the first time, feels. . . Comfortable.)

(It’s an office. A very nice office, with an ornate desk and chair, soft wood floors, a bookshelf, and a grandfather clock. Paintings lined the walls with details you couldn’t make out, and a half-written book you couldn’t read sat open on the desk. A pair of windows looked out onto the night sky, with a picture perfect view of the moon.)

(In one corner was an animal pen. There was a soft bed, as well as a place for a small animal to hide. The floorboards were ripped up on one side, showing off the dirt underneath and the sizable hole in the earth. There was a partially filled water bowl, and a half-eaten carrot.)

(. . . CHANGE your legs HUUUUURT!!!) “O-kay! Break time!”

“Finally.” (Odile slumps over behind the desk and collapses into the chair.) “My bones aren’t made for this.”

“My arms hurt.” (Isabeau gently lays Bonnie down, then sits next to them.) “And my back, and my head.”

“My bad, sorry.” (You place Ramos down next to Isa, then you sit next to Bonnie.) “You were trying to kill me, to be fair.”

“Y-yeah, sorry. . .” (He rubs his neck, looking down.)

(Siffrin, who must’ve peeled away from you when you got here, sat down beside him, and in no time the two were cuddling. The lil’ fella hadn’t said much, but considering that just looking at them made you feel tired, you don’t blame ‘em.)

(Mira flopped down with a sigh.) “. . . I shouldn’t have let him get to me. . .”

“You cannot blame yourself, Mirabelle.” (Odile grumbled.) “He manipulates people for a living. Gems, I don't think any of us could have done better.”

“I guess. . .” (She rubs her eyes.)

(. . . Crab you’re exhausted. You sigh, and lay back.)

>>>

(Siffrin) [Rosmarinus] {Mal Du Pays) <Null> |Asterion| =Socks=

(. . . . . . . There's a big, soft, gentle hand running through your hair, and you hear hushed chatter from around you. You felt the echoes of aches and pains over your body, but it was dulled somewhat. The air is warm, comfortable, and soft, and whoever's touching you, they feel. . . familiar, comfortable, or. . . Not overwhelming?)

(W-wait, it feels, okay?!? That, a-are you, okay?!?)

(You hesitantly open your eyes, expecting either blinding light or oppressive darkness. But instead, you're greeted by a gentle ambient glow that simply left you more relaxed. You're not. . . You're not there anymore? What. . . What, happened? Where. . .)

[B-better you don't know details!!]

(H-huh?? Whatdoyou- are, are we-- oh stars above, you just remembered who--)

[Hehe :3]

(You hum happily and nuzzle up into Isabeau's chest.) “Iiiiisaaa. . ?”

(There's a very soft gasp, a squeak, and a fake retching noise, followed by Isabeau's wonderful, wonderful voice.) “Hey Sif! You feeling any better?”

“I. . . Maybe?” (You have no idea? But you can think, kinda, at last.) “Where. . . Where am I? What uh. . .”

“Now that is a very loaded question.” (Odile's here?) “We're in some kind of office, which we found after navigating through a nonsensical maze of rooms, including where we found you. All of which is contained inside a castle version of the University that taught Percival mind craft, in the middle of a new world ending disaster where reality and unreality have somewhat mixed each other. That's the short version, anyways.”

“Wha??”

“We're in Perci’s head.” (Says a vaguely familiar voice filled with teenage angst.)

“H-huh?!?” (You rub your eye.) ‘M so confused.”

“I-it’s alright, Siffy!” (Ramos! You feel their hand, rough from hard work, running through your hair.) “All that matters is that you're okay, we're all okay. Okay?”

“Mmm. . O-okay. . .” (You try and sit up and take a breath, which then turns into a biiiiiiig yawn, and shake your head. Okay!) “I think I’m, m-more awake now, or uh. . .”

“Not dissociating?” (You look over to the owner of the teen angst; Bonnie! They seem, o-okay? Do they look different?) “Or like, you can talk without sounding like a big baby?”

“Oi!” (Nille bonks her sibling on the head.) “Gentle!”

“FIIIIIINE! Good t’meet you, Frin!” (They huff, cross their arms, and look away from her- o-okay you’re not seeing things.)

“U-uh, good? Too meet you too?” (Meet you? Oh you hope they didn’t forget about you!!!) “Uh, i-is your eye okay??”

“Huh? Oh yeah! Cool, right?” (They lean forward and grin with a mouth full of razor sharp teeth???) “Freaks people out AND looks awesome! It’s PERFECT for me!!!”

“For- h-huh???” (You feel like you’re missing something.)

“Oh, right.” (Bonnie’s face drops.) “Uh. . .”

“Hey Sif?” (Isabeau pats your shoulder.) “Soooooo. . . A lot happened since, uh, ‘last night’, s-so if you don’t think you can hear it right now that’s fine but! But, uh. . .”

“No it’s fine!” (You smile, badly.) “I’m fine now, alright? I can handle it!”

“Liar.” <You flick the back of Siffrin's head.> “We’re fine? Really?! Pull the other one.”

“W-WOAH!!”

“OH!!!!”

“Oh yeah. Cool!”

“HUH?!?” (You whip around to see Null-- huh?!? HUH?!? He's here, and so is your family, at the same-- HUH?!?)

<Huh. I, how. . . How did I do that?>

“Yeah that, that can happen.” (Ramos, who's sitting next to you, moves a little closer.) “So uh, should I explain now? Or later.”

“Uh.” (You rub your shoulder.) “I-I dunno if I’ll remember, but. . . Better explain in full, it’s probably for the best-”

*>>>

“-why we're here, to stop Percival.” (They finally finish.)

“. . . O-okay! Okay that's, that’s. . .” (A lot. That’s a lot, s-stars-- Merged realities? A-and, those memories and, a-and meeting those Knights. . . You hold Horizons charm close, and take a shaky breath in, and out- o-okay no you're hyperventilating.) “O-oh stars above--”

[Stole, s-stole a star from your chest, from your heart, a-and, and took it and, a-and--]

“It’s okay, Sif! Just breathe, you’re okay, you’re okay, okay?” (Isabeau’s holding you.) “We’re gonna get out of this, okay?”

“I---” (You're having trouble breathing, your hands are shaking, your head felt hot-)

[W-where’s Loop?]

(Where-- Gone. No that's--)

“I-it's okay! Here, breathe with me, Siffrin?” (Someone reassures you.) “P-please?”

[Loops ladder. Ladder on, on the tree to, to Loops-- gone and!!? Wh. W-where's, where's Saffron?!? SAFFRON?!? LOOP?!? ANYONE?!?! N-no no NO NO!!!!!]

“W-where’s Loop?!?” (Your world is spinning!!) “L-loop’sgoneLoop’sgoneLoop’snothere- w-where are they they’renotherethey’renothereTHEY’RENOT, N-NOT---”

(You feel tugging on your stomach, but nothing happens.)

(Stop.)

(You stop. Your mind stops racing, body stops moving, emotions stop spiraling. Everything else lurches at the sudden halt, it makes you nauseous.)

(Breathe in, okay? Breathe in, and out.)

(You do just that, taking in a shaky, cold breath of air. . . And letting go. . . In again. . . Out once more. . . You are going to throw up.)

“Uhoh--” (Ramos swiftly moves out of the way as you wretch, but after a few attempts, nothing comes up.) “My bad! Sorry Sif. . .”

“What did you do?” (Odile asks.)

“Forced their brain to stop spiraling.” (They pat your back.) “Shoulda realized this might happen in hindsight.”

“You basically just gave them mental whiplash.” (Odile groans.) “Ouch.”

“Maybe YOU should get mental whiplashed!” (Bonnie yells.) “BATFACE!!!”

“N-noooo I didn’t mean it!! I’m sorryyyy!!” (Ramos whines pathetically.) “I’ll never do it again I promiiiiiiiseeeeee!!”

“Heh, you BETTER!!”

(You couldn’t help but cough up some laughter.)

“Siffrin? How are you feeling now?” (Mirabelle touches your shoulder gently.) “Do you think you can eat something?”

“. . . M-maybe. . .” (Your stomach was very angry with you.) “C-couldn’t. . . Couldn’t, hurt to try?”

“Okay! Do you have some nice snacks, S- B-bonnie?”

“Uhm, yeah?” (They start digging in their pockets as you sit up.) “But they’re all the food from th’ Dormont loops.”

“Oh! T-that’s fine!” (Your shoulders relax as you lean on Isa.) “Something familiar’s probably good. . .”

“Well what’chya want!!”

“U-uhm--”

“Bawwwwnnie??” =You look up at Bonbon with big, pleading eyes= “Can I have a fish head pleeeease?”

“Socks!!!!”

“Huh. Not what I expected nya to look like.”

“Oh Change nya is adorable!!”

“Crab yeah you can!!!” =They fish out a fish head from their pockets and hand it to you!= “Dig in-!”

=You do NOT wait at ALL!!! MMMMMMMMM!!!!!=

“Soooo cute!!”

“Nya looks so fluffy, too!”

(Are you feeling secondhand embarrassment??? S-stars above you must be!! Grrr. . . . Y-you, you still need to ask what happened to Bonnie, but. . . You gingerly raise your hand.) “Do. D-do you have, uhm--”

“Duh, here.” (Bonnie hands you the malanga fritters!!!) “Y’earned it.”

“Thankyou!!!!!” (Your eyes were sparkling!!! Yummy!!!)

(You dig in and- o-oh STARS it’s so GOOD!!!!)

(It’s, i-it’s crunchy and delicious and-- o-oh you are STARVING?!? Void everything else, you can ask about Bonnie later! It, i-it’s still bugging you but, a-a lot is going on and if you ask now you WILL cry! It’s just, you, you just need to get through this! And you need to EAT!! UP!!!)

>>>

(Ramos) [Alex] {Nihil} <Altiare> |Jasmine| +Arrin+

(You steel yourself, and open the door forward.)

(The wooden office door opens onto the side of a tremendously tall onyx tower, with a view that stretches as far as you could imagine. You could see the keep, the Starlight Desert,Twilight Falls, Folded Fields, and dozens of places you’d never even been to. A sturdy iron staircase reminiscent of those from the waterfall were in front of you, and looking to the side, it spiraled up and around the tower.)

(A strong wind blows against you, grabbing your hairs and making you shudder. You look back at your party.) “Stick close! We’re pretty high up!!”

“Great.” (Was what you imagine Odile replied, since you couldn’t hear her over the wind.)

(You waited until the wind died down, and then stepped out onto the staircase. This one was even sturdier than the last, yet somehow that was of little comfort to you. You waited until the others were behind you, then you started to climb.)

(There was a strange serenity up here. Rays of sunshine pierced through clouds above and below you. Rain flew away in odd patterns, and snow tempted itself against the tower. The ground stretched ever further away, and you couldn’t help but feel some sort of. . . Weightlessness to it all.)

(You entered a cloud, thick, warm, inviting. It was a fog unlike any other, of the mind and body. Yet you pushed forward. You could hear the distant storms in your ears, yet you pushed forward. Just a little more.)

(Once you breached the cloud, blinding rays of light made you cover your eyes. Yet, after blinking away the initial tears, you lowered your arm to find it. . . Warm.)

(About a half kilometer away sat the Dreaming God upon a cloud. They looked relieved, happy, and gave you a little wave before floating higher up. Flicker? Here? You wanted to ask, why? Why now of all times? But, you got your answer just moments later.)

(A second light, brighter than the first, reached your retenas. This one stung of command and fear, and threatened to halt you in your tracks. Yet a moment later, the light dimmed enough for you to look upon its source. The Shining God did not look back. You were beneath her.)

(Stars, you swallow your pride and venom, and continue. But not before finding a third deity, one you failed to recognise. A warrior, standing proud and tall, sword in hand. Next was a figure in a tall chair, hunched over an artist's canvas. Next were creatures big and small, with masks of every kind. You recognised a handful, and so you could guess the rest; Expressions. Hundreds of them, all watching you.)

(You were growing numb as you got higher and higher. Not just from the height or mix of temperatures, but of the faces that stared at you which you realized, with dawning horror, were Gods. Dozens of dozens of Gods. It made you want to throw up.)

(It was only when you got near the top did the Change God show themself. You don’t know if you should be honored, intimidated or something in between. But, you did know the Change God was lounging on. . . Something. Something you couldn’t look at without your eyes hurting.)

(Why were they all here? Why were they all just, watching this happen?! You knew this was big, b-but. . . You pull your eyes away from the enamoring congregation of deities, and do your best to put the terror of so many eyes on you out of your mind. A-and even if you couldn’t that just emboldened you more! Because, because. . .)

[Because you like this world, and there’s no way you’re gonna let Perci break it.]

|’Cause Dreamy was nice to us, and we wanna do ‘em proud!!|

+And because there is so much life yet to live.+

{. . . There is no reason you need to provide.}

(The staircase ends on a platform carved through the insides of the spire itself. In three corners of the circular arena, parts of the onyx tower continue reaching up, eventually stretching into arches and joining up to form a sharp tip to the spire. Hanging from the arches were dozens of brass charms and bells that gently blew in the wind.)

[Look up. You always forget to check above you.]

(You look up to the ceiling, and hesitate. In the center of the ceiling, where the three pillars merged back into one, was a cocoon. A very, very large cocoon, with something dangling from it. Long like a snake, yet segmented like a centipede, and with a ball of bright light on the tip. It gently swayed back and forth.)

“Gems alive. . .” (Odile breathed in a voice of utter disbelief.) “. . . Honestly, that is not what I thought we would find here.”

“That’s Perci? That’s Perci?!?” (Nille let out a very strained breath.) “A cocoon?!?”

“I thought he would’ve been more like. . .” (Mirabelle rubbed her chin as she looked up at the strange mass of silk.) “Like some, some king of bunnies sitting on a throne, o-or, something.”

“Honestly? I’m not that surprised.” (Isabeau crossed his arms.) “Still surprised! Just, not that surprised.”

“‘Cuz it’s a meta- met-a-mor-pho-sis?” (Suzy snorts.) “Like the thing we did, right?”

“Yep yep!”

(You feel Siffrin tug on your arm.) “U-uhm, Ramos?”

“Huh?” (You turn to them.) “What’s up Siffy?”

“I-I. . . I’m, still- u-uh, just--” (Sif was looking down at their feet and shuffling awkwardly.) “Don’t I’muhm, not- and, just---”

“Do you not feel comfortable in a battle right now?” (You prompt patiently.)

(He shyly nods, sinking a little into the cloak.) “I-I’lltry, just, j-just. . .”

“We’ll be careful, Sif.” (You hug him gently, patting them on the back.) “Hey if we’re lucky, we won’t need to fight!”

“Knock on wood!” (Nille calls back, and she taps the wooden handle of her hammer.) “Don’t wanna jinx us now, Rams!”

“R-right!” (You awkwardly rub your hair, before turning back to Sif.) “Just, stay in the backlines, okay? Please just don’t do anything dangerous.”

“Promise.” (They nod.) “I’ll keep to the back with Bo-b-b-- Uh, S-suzy.”

(You wince.) “U-uh, Suzy’s not really--”

“If you make me sit this out, I’ll bite your face off.” (The teen interrupted in a menacingly calm tone.)

(Siffrin opens their mouth to say something, then hesitates, face shifting into a soft pout.) “. . . O-oh, okay.”

“. . . Uh. .” (Suzy’s face relaxed slightly before responding again.) “We’ll be okay, ‘Frin. Super duper promise.”

(The rogue nods gently, and takes a few steps back. You turn back around to the party, one hand on your hip, one rubbing your chin.) “Alright! So! How do we--”

“HEY!!! CRABFACE!!!!” (Suzy screams.) “GET YOUR BIG BATTY BUTT DOWN HERE BEFORE I COME UP THERE AND KICK IT MYSELF!!!!”

“B-Bonnie!!!” (Mirabelle yelped.)

“What!!” (They huffed.) “We gotta get his attention, right?!”

“W-well--”

(Mirabelle was interrupted by a loud ripping sound above you. Snapping your head back towards the coccoon, there were visible tears in the silk with more showing up every moment! You wave your arms.) “Move back! Move back!!”

(Everyone ran back to the stairs you came from as the ripping sounds became more and more frequent. After a few seconds of paralyzing anticipation, there was one final ‘RRRRRRIIIIIIP!!!’ as the cocoon splits open. Something falls out of it, landing with a solid thud and a whimper.)

[What, what are we LOOKING at?!?]

(Y-you, you have no idea. You couldn’t make out much when it fell, and now it was curled up on the floor. It was big, and it had its back to you, you think, with something wrapped around it. Actually now that you think about it, that something folded into a point on its back-)

[They’re wings! It’s got its wings wrapped around itself!]

“Whatthe-” (You spin around at Nille’s voice. Something was glowing in her hand, and as you reached out to help, it soars from her grasp/ It bounces along the ground once, twice, three times over.)

(On the third bounce, the light poofs away in a mini-explosion, revealing a fluffy white rabbit. For a few seconds, it just sat there as you stared in disbelief. Then, it started hopping along the ground towards the creature that fell from the cocoon. Once it got close, the rabbit stood up, and thumped the ground with its back foot.)

“. . . Hnnngh. . . ?” (W-what the-?! The thing rumbled, and slowly began to move. First, its wings unfurled as it got on all fours, before stretching, and sitting back in a kneeling position, now turned slightly more towards you.) “Who. . . S. . . So-ffice. . ?”

[STARS that VOICE!!! It’s- AUGH!!! It’s like each ear was hearing something just ever so slightly different! Or, something that’s deafeningly loud and a hushed whisper! STARS no, that’s not right either! It, just-- It’s like hearing it twice!!]

(Either way it was hurting your head! C-crab, you were already pretty overwhelmed just trying to break down what you were looking at! It- n-no, he?!? That’s, that’s gotta be Percival, right?!? B-but, but he looks, looks. . .)

+Lightless body, tiny darkless spots all over. Sharp claws, and a second pair of arms, mantis arms. The head, you couldn’t tell. He’s carrying something in one arm, the other reaches down to the rabbit, palm up. The rabbit jumps in, he brings it close.+

“Soffice. . . Oh little Soffice, what are you doing here. . ?” (He turned away from you a bit more, what’s he doing??) “Old friend, it’s been so long, too long. . . You will be safe, as I will it. We will talk soon, my small fluffy friend. . .”

(You had started to wonder if he had noticed you at all, but then he turned his head. His head, which was a blinding ball of light far too similar to what Loop looked like. His eyes were intense as tiny planets orbited his head; he was burning through your heart with a glare.)

“. . . Is. . . Is this what I look like, now?”

“?!?!?!?!” (You flinch at the voice, booming once in your ears, and again in your mind. You exchange looks with your party, then respond.) “U-uh, yyyyeees? Ho-”

“Your mind is but a book, or perhaps a pamphlet or notecard.” (His eyes narrow.) “A new voice joined your choir? Ah I see, Arrin the hunter, a true Elil at heart formed terror. They speak nothing but lies, Alex, pay them no mind-”

“SHUTTUP BATFACE!!!” (Suzy pushes past you and brandishes their Tenderiser.) “GET OUTTA THEIR HEAD!!!!”

“Oh Bonnie, if only it was so easy. . .” (He shifted his gaze to the teen, before his eyes seemed to brighten.) “. . . You seem different, Boniface. Against the expected, your aegis of the mind is beyond my reach now more than ever. Yet, I feel a weight to you still, as if the world's hopes and dreams flow in your veins and heart. Just what did you do. . ?”

“NUNYA BUISNESS!!!” (Suzy scowled, paused to glance back at Sif, then scowled at Percival again.) “And, it’s Suzy now! Okay? So don’t forget it!”

“. . . Ha. Haha. Haaahahahahahaa!”

(Percival started to laugh, and shake. You readied yourself for anything, for him to attack you or something! He starts to get up and turn towards you, but loses balance, and crashes onto his side. He’s starting to cry.)

[You can see his front now and. . . Stars above, there’s a star mark in his chest just like Loop. Blinding-- you could see what he was holding now, too. It was a bundle of cloth in the shape of a person. Apart from that, you couldn't tell much.]

“. . . P-Percival?” (Mirabelle tentatively walks towards him.) “A-ar-”

“I don’t know who I am!!!” (He finally responds between hysterical sobs.) “The man I was is gone! All that remains is the shell! Molded by the demons who call themselves Knights down below!!! No, little one, I am not alright!”

“W-wh-”

“I see the thoughts of all at once! What little control I once had is gone!! Nerves, the NERVES!! I feel them, even from here I feel your breathing, Ramos, your shaking, Mirabelle, your heartbeat, Siffrin!!!” (He starts getting up again.) “But that is alright. It must be alright. It will be alright, because I will bring them back.”

(He stands to his full height of 20, 30 feet, and holds the bundle of cloth tight to his chest. He was staring at the bundle, wide eyed, and his tail was swishing too and fro rapidly! Even if he looks nothing like a human, his body language was, w-was very clear.)

[Hey!! Don't let him get in your head, Ramos! We still need to get him to fix all this!!]

(Change, Alex! Just look at him!!! He's mourning and NOT taking it well!!!)

[Well he can get therapy about it AFTER everything's back to normal!!!]

(WHAT-?!)

+He almost killed Siffrin, put them through hell! He must have killed Loop, too! IDIOT!! You are a FOOL to feel bad for him!!!+

[Shit.]

(You look down and away, bats. BATS! You tug on your hair aaauuuurhg you don’t know what to DOOOO!!)

“. . . P-Perci. . ?” (You whip around at Siffrin's voice. He’s staying a few feet away, with a broken smile on their face.) “. . . Can, s-should I. . .”

(Perci sharply breaths in, then responds quietly.) “. . . You shall, yes, yes you will. For why? I have done nothing but hurt you.”

“I-I know I-, i-it’s just, just. . . That, t-that room. . .” (He shuffles forwards, and you feel yourself and Isabeau- stars basically everyone -getting ready to jump in to help. They got to the front of the group, and paused.) “. . . Did. . . D-did you. . .”

“. . . Like words and fire, if inflicted, such wounds could not be undone.” (The Godlike being that is Perci lowered his head to the Rogues level.) “With the world in flames, I looked upon you in nothing but rage. I wanted to hurt you, to maim you, to tear you into pieces and put you back together. If only you had listened, I thought, if only you had helped, then maybe this end would be happy!!! But, but what they did to me in that room? There's not a soul alive I'd wish it on. . ."

“. . .” (Siffrin pauses, starts raising a hand, then, lowers it.) “. . . I-I’m. . I’m sorry. . .”

“. . . No. I am sorry.” (There’s a loud and deep rumbling from his throat, then he raises his head again.) “You did not deserve my wrath, as the world did not deserve this chaos. Once I finish my mission, I will fix all this.”

(Siffrin didn’t respond, letting the words hang in the air, before looking away.) “. . . Your. . . mission?”

“I will bring them back.” (Percival's tone had changed, now deeper, more menacing.) “I will bring them back, or I will die trying to do so.”

“And, what?! Leave the world like THIS?!?” [Sorry Rams you cannot hold this back.] “The whole world's coming apart and all you care about is some, some stupid-!!”

“THEN LET THE WORLD DIE WITH ME!!!” (He screams! Siffrin retreats, and you steady yourself.) “If the Universe is one to do something so cruel then let us return to the nothing it once was! But until then, I have work to do!”

(He turns to leave. Isabeau steps forward.) “Hey wait-!”

“Did I not make myself clear?!” (Perci glares back at him) “LEAVE!!!”

“. . .”

“. . . Uh, yeah no, no way.” (Suzy snorts.) “You're causing a lotta hurt, sun-head! And I don't like it!!!”

“I would have thought you’d have learned this by now.” (Odile sighs.) “Scars still hurt, even if the wounds are forgotten.”

“You’re not even in a state to DO any fixing right now!” (Isabeau puffs up his chest.) “You’re hurt and confused and in over your head!! Just, let us help you!”

“. . .”

“W-we didn’t want any of this to happen! Perci, I’m sorry for what happened to your bonded, b-but,” (Mirabelle steels herself, and continues.) “But we can help you through this! Please!!”

“. . .”

“. . . I’m tired, Perci.” (Petronillé adjusts her hat.) “I just want to get us home. C’mon, give us a hand and I’ll even invite you over for dinner after. Change knows you need it.”

“Sis-!?” (Suzy whips around.) “Are you serious!?!”

“Yeah I’m serious!!!” (She grumbled back) “Look at him! The guy needs help!!!”

“That’s enough.”

(Silence claims the siblings, as Percival takes the attention once again, back still turned to you.)

“. . . You are kind to offer, Petronillé.” (He pauses, one of his mantis claw-arms tapping on his side.) “. . . But my answer, is no.”

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(A wave of anxiety and fear washes over you as Percival slowly turns to face you all. The wind rips at your clothes, and the chimes on the arches ring in an unnatural choir. The planets that circle Percival’s head spin more rapidly than before, and he looked upon you with a searing glare that made your legs shake.)

(Your jaw is starting to hurt.) “P-Perci-!!”

“No running, no surrendering, no interruptions.” (He boomed.) “Since you will not leave me, I will kill you, and when I am done bringing them back, I will bring you back, too!”

(The One Betwixt looms over the party!)

“GO CHOKE ON A BAT YOU CRAB!!!” (Suzy yells, and jumps at him with the Tenderiser! Perci beats his wings, and a gust of wind pushes Suzy back to the group.) “COME ON!!”

“Not gonna be that simple, Suz!!!” [You [study] the enemy!] “Let’s see. . . Percival Monet, historian, manipulator, asshole, and admittedly traumatized to all hell! He might be godlike, but he’s gotta have limits. Considering all we went through to get here, whatever crafts he throws at us will be based on perception and the mind.”

“Very good, however, you missed something.” [Odile bounces off you studying!] “He’s surely still adjusting to his new state. Stay vigilant, and we may get through this.”

“I know the feeling.” (Isabeau strikes a pose and uses [We! Will! Win!!!]) “The first few weeks after Changing are always a big adjustment!”

“I-I think this is a bit more than an average Change!” (Mirabelle uses [Pretty buffy friends!]) “S-so are we fighting??”

“Guess so.” (Petronillé used [Tension Setting], raising crit chance.) “Gonna be honest, I was hoping we wouldn’t need to.”

“This guy’s crabbin’ stubborn, sis.” (Suzy snorts.) “I should bite his head off, THEN he’ll listen.”

“Hah?!?!” (Nille laughed nervously.) “Just uh, brush your teeth after!”

“BOOOOO!!!!”

“P-please stop joking around!!!” (Sif yelled from the back) “I-I-, I don’twantyou- d-don’t want you to die!!!”

“We’re gonna be FIIIIINEEEE!!!!!” (Suzy brushes them off, and runs in again, sticking low, darting this way and that way. They swing upwards at the Monet and find his arm blocking the attack. Still, you can see him wince.)

“Just a game, just a game it is what is all!!” (What? He moves, and then you’re on your side, like something hit you!! W-wh- HUH??) “Make it real! MAKE IT REAL!!!”

“Gems alive what is he talking about?!” (It looks like Odile got hurt too.) “And what sort of attack was that?”

(Siffrin spoke up.) “U-uhm, from back here it-!”

“C-careful Ramos!!” (Mirabelles warning gave you just enough time to look up and see Perci striking at you with a wing! You brace yourself!)

(You’re thrown backwards into one of the onyx pillars, and you yelp. Stumbling to a knee, you clutch your head as your vision goes wonky and your stomach starts doing cartwheels. Luckily, Mira jumped in with her healing craft.)

(There was a roar as Percival tried to stomp at Suzy, who was running around his legs trying to trip him up. The teen eventually pounced at his tail, grabbing on with both hands and biting! Perci screamed, and his tail started flailing.)

“Percival! Come to your senses already!!” [Madame stood her ground and used [Craft Break Δ.]] “I am sorry for who you have lost, but turning your sorrow onto others is idiotic!”

“DO NOT PRETEND TO KNOW ME!!!” [Percival screams, swiping at the air with a scythe-arm and sending a slice of light at Odile.] “I am the VILLAIN of YOUR STORY! And I shall act appropriately!!!”

“Don’t know you?!?” (Nille jumped in front of the slice and deflected it.) “You sonofacrab I ate your food!!! We talked for Change knows how long after y’saved my life!!!”

“But it was just to get CLOSER!!!” (He wailed, swiping again and again, each blow deflected.) “That’s who I am!!! Never trusting, always just PRETENDING!!! You were never my friend, you couldn’t ever be friends with someone like me!!! I TRICKED YOU!”

(You wince. Where have you heard that before?) “What a load’a guano!! You were just being nice!!!”

“Like I was being NICE to YOU?!?” (He glares at you, laughing hysterically yet again.) “I got you KILLED!!! HA! HAHAHAH!!!! KILLED!! HAHA!!!!!”

“HEY CRABFACE!!!” (Suzy was still attached to his tail, and about to slam her hammer down on the light on the end.) “EAT THIS!!!”

(They struck, and Perci screamed again! He rammed his shoulder into one of the Onyx pillars, and flung his tail out at the same time. Your heart stopped at seeing Suzy flung off the tower.)

“B-BONNIE-!!” (Petronillé screamed and ran for the edge, only to be cut off by Percival slamming a knee down in front of her.)

“OH! OH! NOW LOOK WHAT I’VE DONE!!!” (His laughter was mixed with crying.) “Again, AGAIN!! Do you SEE?!?”

“Y-YOU-!!”

(A blink later, a lightless smear flew up from the rim of the arena, before clashing with Percival's wings which he used like a shield. It was Crim- no? N-not quite?! It was like Crimson was an armor, molded around Suzilla; her face was barely visible.)

“CRIMSON? CRIMSON! OH CRIMSON I SEE! WHY FEAR GRIPS THOSE BELOW!!” (Twilight gathered around his wings, before shoving the Knight away with a burst of energy.) “A hero? A KNIGHT from the DARK? WHY!!!”

“Because the world needs SAVING, Perci!!!” (Isabeau runs up right in front of him, and stands definitely.) “You’re making a mistake! Whatever you’re trying to do, it’s not working!”

“I’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN!!” (Perci slams down in front of Isa, menacing him with that glare.) “I could reach through time! I could remake their very being! I’ve collected fragments, dozens of fragments of memory!! They were from the Island, they wore white, they had soft hair and bonding earrings!!! Next I will delve, delve into memory and pluck her from within a soul!!!”

“T-that won’t work.” (Siffrin shuffles forward a little.) “It, i-it won’t!”

“YOU! DON’T! KNOW THAT!!!” (With a wing beat he blows Isa backwards, and blocks another attack from Crimson.) “I could reverse the wish! I could UNMAKE the wish, or better yet, the Universe itself!!!”

“For the love of- Perci LISTEN TO YOURSELF!!” <You use [Raise], and move to defend Sif just in case.> “You wanna rip the world in two for one person?!?”

“That person was my world.” <Perci retreats into his wings.> “No home, no self. A shell of a person, betrayer after betrayer until the knife reaches its own back. Stitching, stitching coming undone, undone.”

<You shift onto one foot, and tilt your head. Huh.> “. . . Y’know, even if you can’t remember ‘em, they still had an effect on you. If I were to guess, they’d want you to live, not do. . . This.”

“I made this promise, yes.” <He still doesn’t look at you. Suzy/Crimson pause their attacks for a moment, curious.> “And I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t live on, not when. . .”

“Not when you couldn’t trust anyone, right?” (Petronillé sighs, and lowers her hammer.) “Somin’ like that came up in the woods, yeah?”

“. . .”

“. . . W-would. . .” (Siffrin’s close, right to your left.) “. . .Would, you let me help?”

“What?!”

“I. . .” (You couldn’t help but give him a look as they stumble over words.) “I-I. . . I didn’t help before, but, i-if maybe. . .”

“. . . Your. . .” (Percival parts his wings slightly, and kneels down.) “Your. . . Your wish! Your time! Yes! Yes! That must- may work, yes?”

(Sif hesitated, glanced at you for confidence, then nodded.) “. . . Y-yes, yes, that. I dunno if it’ll work, but. . .”

“But we must try. Yes.” (Percival, having forgotten everything that just happened, leans down close to Sif, presenting the bundle in his arms.) “Please, please! Take, yes, take your time, but I need- I- I-I need. Your. Help.”

“O-okay, okay. . .” (Sif starts shuffling forward nervously, before Mirabelle joins them and helps them over. Once he stood in front of the bundle of fabric, clothing, he pauses, breaths.) “. . .”

“We got your back, Sif!” (Mirabelle reassures. You give a big thumbs up, everyone’s giving their affirmations.)

“. . . O-okay. Okay.” (They breathe in, and out, and place their hand on the cloth.)

(Suzilla) [Crux] {Crimson} <Eight> |Ember|

(You don’t trust this. It’s too, too familiar! You kick your feet, and try not to let your opinions show from where you stand behind ‘Dile. Siffrin was being stupidly vulnerable, really stupidly vulnerable, and for what! Why now! It felt- felt like--)

{A squeezing, crushing feeling in your chest?}

(You shudder, and press your hand to your chest to count your ribs. Nothing wrong, nothing out of place, but. . . Yeah. That. You let out a breath, and look at your arm. The back of it was covered in shadowy scales or, plates, or, something. It was Crimson, ‘parently, that’s what it looks like when it wants to “help”. Ugh.)

(Sif puts his hand on the cloth. . . Crabbing crab, what if it IS that easy? You’d be so annoyed if it was- you feel a tingle on your neck.)

“WAIT!!” (You rush forward to grab ‘Frin.)

(Before you know it, there’s a snapping sound, and Sif falls backwards. Mira catches them.)

“S-SIF?!?”

“SIFFRIN!!!!”

“WHAT’D YOU DO!?!?”

“I- No, no no NO NO!!!”

“Sif, SIFFRIN!!!” (Mirabelle shakes them, they’re totally limp. She uses her healing. You’re frozen on the spot.) “Siffrin, Siffrin wake up!!!”

[. . . Using time craft takes a lot of energy. Enough that, that trying to turn back time would, w-would kill someone.]

(But, but Siffrin’s done it before! They should be fine. . . Oh, yeah, Sif wasn’t ever powering that wish alone, were they.)

“NO!!!” (Percival screamed, brushing you and Mirabelle away before looming over Siffrin.) “N-NO!! You aren’t dead, YOU AREN’T DEAD!!! Can’t be- CAN’T BE!!! Is THIS what I am punished with?!? Death of innocence, death of- o-of--”

“HEY!!!” (You get back up and run over.) “GET AWAY MY FRIEND!!!”

“I-I CAN FIX THIS!!!” (He puts himself in-between you and Sif.) “Yes! Bring them- bring them back!! I will, I CAN!!!”

“JUST SHUT UP ALREADY!!!!” (You roar.) “YOU JUST MESS EVERYTHING UP! THAT’S ALL YOU DO!!!”

“I, w-what-?!”

“YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING! YOU GOT ‘FRIN KILLED! AND YOU’RE BREAKING THE CRABBING WORLD!!!” (You punch his side, wham!) “STOP ACTING LIKE YOU’RE BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE!!!”

“But-”

“YOU’RE NOT BETTER! YOU’RE STUPID! YOU’RE NOT BETTER THAN ME OR MY SIS OR ANYONE!!” (Wham! Wham! Wham!) “YOU’RE NOT BETTER THAN THE KING! AND YOU CAN’T JUST IGNORE THOSE STUPID WISH RULES!!!”

“I don’t-”

“YOU’RE JUST LIKE THOSE STUPID! CRABBING! KNIGHTS!!!!!”

“. . .”

(He doesn’t respond as you keep punching him. Wham! Wham! Wham! Until you finally stop, panting and sweating. You take a second to catch your breath, then look up at Perci with a glare. He’s staring at nothing, an impossible expression on his face.) “So? Y’got anything to say?!”

“. . . . . Oh. Blood.” (He sounds distraught.) “You’re right. I’m not above the rules.”

“I- huh?” (You blink, and step back.)

“This whole thing was pointless.” (He drops his arms, the bundle of cloth falling to the ground and landing in a clump.) “She’s gone.”

(. . . Uh, you look back to your family, is that--)

Visit Original Link

(Petronillé)

“GYYYYYYHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!”

(You clutch your head and fall to a knee as a mind piercing scream rattles your head!!! You yelp, and feel a wave of searing heat wash over you for just a fraction of a second. Sputtering for air, you look up and around, checking on your allies! Mirabelle was holding strong in front of Odile, and Isabeau carried Siffrin in his arms.)

(Waves of fire and light engulf the skies around you, leaving only a sliver of untouched land where you all stood. Ahead of you were two figures cloaked in shadow, both recognisable in an instant. Crimson shielded you all with its body, with Nihil supporting it. Behind the two of them, was nothing but wailing.)

“Dammit-!” (You staggered to your feet.) “ARE YOU ALL OKAY?!?”

“Y-YEAH BUT, SIFFRIN. . .” (Isabeau looks down at his love.)

“HE’LL BE OKAY, ALRIGHT!?” (You shout back, then start making your way forward.) “JUST GOTTA TRUST.”

“PETRONILLÉ!!” (Odile stumbles forward with Mirabelle’s help.) “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?”

“NO IDEA!!” (You shield your eyes from a wave of heat and pain, and keep walking. Eventually, you felt a cold- hand? You think? -on your shoulder. It’s Nihil.)

{Danger. Run.}

“Like hell!!” (You shrug it off.) “We’re- w-we’re in this together Changedammit!!”

{Still, danger.}

{You want to die, sister? You’ve worked so hard, now you want to play hero again?}

“Listen here, Crimson!” (Your focus shifts to Crimson with a commanding look.) “You’re still my sibling and I love you! We’re not done here and you can’t beat Perci on your own! Change, your crabbing armor’s cracking!!!”

(The Knight looked to its shoulder, and indeed, there were cracks starting to form.) {. . . Tch.} (It scowled, you think.)

(You feel a hand on your arm and turn. Mirabelle’s right next to you, and the others were a step behind. She nodded, you nodded back, and turned once again to the eye of the storm. Fighting wasn’t going to help, you shoulda learned that lesson a while ago.)

“PERCIVAL!!!!!”

(The light's response came as a scream.)

“GET AWAY FROM ME!!!”

(Change, gotta try again!!) “C’MON, PERCI!!! TALK TO US!!!”

“JUST GO!!”

“NO WAY!!!” (Isabeau yells.) “WE’RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE, OKAY?!”

“LEAVE ME ALONE!!”

“I-I, I CAN’T!!! ” (Mirabelle screams.) “YOU’RE HURT! I DIDN’T HELP YOU BEFORE BUT WE CAN NOW! PLEASE!!”

“JUST- J-JUST LET ME DIE!!!”

“IS THAT WHAT SHE WOULD HAVE WANTED?!” (Odile booms.) “TO DESTROY NOT ONLY YOURSELF, BUT THE WORLD?!?”

“I, I CAN’T! I CAN’T!!!”

“LISTEN! IT SUCKS! I KNOW!” (Suzy, somewhere, roars.) “LIFE’S GONNA SUCK! BUT YOU JUST GOTTA KEEP CRABBING GOING ‘NTILL YOU’RE SAFE!!!”

“BUT, I HURT YOU, YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!”

“AND IT SUCKED!” (Ramos, you can see part of them with Nihil.) “AND IT’S GONNA HURT FOR A WHILE! BUT- GOTTA START, SOMEWHERE!!”

“H-HOW COULD YOU. . . HOW, COULD YOU TRUST ME! OR I TRUST YOU?!?”

“Y-YOU---” (Crab, what do you say to that?!? You open your mouth, unsure of what’s about to come out.)

*“DON’T- DON’T TRUST ME, TRUST THE STARS!”

“. . .”

(Several seconds of intensity passed over you, hot like fresh wounds, cold like sea-brine, before slowly dissipating into soft twilight rays of sunset; or sunrise. By the time the world stopped ringing in your mind, the tower you were once standing on was gone. It was all gone. Everything was gone, leaving you, alone, in a white void.)

“. . . Petronillé?” (You turn around. A familiar young person was sitting on the ground, wearing a traveler's coat, and having a partially changed body. A rabbit lay happily in their, his, lap.) “. . . Thank you for taking care of Soffice.”

(You open your mouth to say something, and yawn. You feel so sleepy all of a sudden. . .)

. . .

Percival grips his chest, tears in his eyes, and takes a trembling breath, in. . . And out. . .

“. . . I don’t remember you, but. . . I remember when we first met.”

"That cold winter night at that local pub. Me and my classmates were having a night on the town, and you were there alone. You enamored me, from the moment I laid my eyes on you. Even if my classmates heckled me into it, from the moment I heard your voice, my life changed. . . I. . . I don't remember your voice anymore, but. . . I remember trusting you."

Percival digs his hand into his chest, into the star.

“You asked me to live for you, and I couldn’t. You trusted me, and I broke it. I trusted you, and I broke it. I’m. . . I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”

Percival's chest starts to bleed and brun.

“I-I’m, I’m going to do what’s right. I’ll rip this star out of my chest, a-and, and put the world back to the way it was. I’ll- I-I’ll take whatever punishment the Universe gives me, and. . . A-and, I’ll try to live. I trust you. I trust what you’re doing, and I’ll live. I’ll live for you, and for myself, and whatever comes next. I’ll live for those I’ve helped, we’ve helped, a-and for those we’ve hurt.”

“A-and, and if you ever come back. . .”

Percival chokes on his words.”

“. . . I-I, I’ll welcome you home with open arms. I promise. . .”

“I promise. . .”

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