“Alright, next floor.” I, the great Kico, said happily after beating the last floor.
"I wonder what's next? Wish there was a list or something of the people on each floor." Cerex said as we went down the steps that lead to the next floor. These stairs were on every floor going down, and we're long, and sometimes had random loot here and there.
"It would be nice to actually know…" I sighed out. "Just to make things simpler."
"Lots." Cerex agreed. "See anything around that's neat?"
"Hmm…" I looked around curiously, wonder if there was anything neat around here.
There was mostly small loot here. A potion here, helmet there, some bones around there. As we traveled down I began getting a scent of… it's familier. Where have I smelled that?
"Do you smell that?" I asked curiously.
Cerex took a sniff. "Not really. I think I smell… water, and… rotten meat?"
Well, there was that but what is this specific smell?
"Not those, it's a specific smell…" I started while following after the familiar scent.ter that familiar scent.
As we descended, the stairs taking on the theme of the next floor we saw as vines, tree roots and plant life began covering and breaking up the walls. Then, Cerex and I felt a vibration, like a shake and a thud from above. "The hell?" Cerex asked.
“Either that’s something good or something bad…” I said worriedly.
A moment Later, another thud, slightly louder and the vibration moreso shaking, small bits of dust falling from the roof above. "That's concerning." Cerex said, immediately another pair of thud and shake. Like the last one, louder and more violent.
“Um...alright so uh...should we run?” I asked nervously.
Another thud, another violent shake. "The hell could be coming from up there, King and the others cleared every floor above and we cleared the last two, right?" Another thud and shake, on this time the two were combined in a loud crash. Whatever was coming, it was closer. Maybe three floor-
Crash!
Two floors above us.
“Panic?” I asked worriedly.
"Since when does that do anything?"
Crash!!
Seconds passed, and finally.
Boom! Cerex and I jumped against the wall, the rubble of the prior floors exit doors rolling down passed us. We headed footsteps and then… Cript?! "Huh? Cerex? Kico? Huh, King didn't tell me you guys fused." He shrugged. "Sorry I'm late."
“Okay so...why are you here, what was all those crashing and exploding and...why are you here?”
"The doors do lock behind you ya know. I had to break them down to get here. As for why, I owed King's Luna and she wanted King to get much needed help for his massive ass list of crap he piles upon himself, so, here I am." Cript said plainly.
“Even when he has literally everyone willing to help him, he just keeps doing stuff by himself…” I sighed out. “So cool, you being here will help us deal with the rest of the dungeon on max difficulty.”
"Great. Let's go." Cript said.
My hud flashed and Cript was registered as a party member.
With a nod we headed off.
The twenty first floor was a Forest a mix of life and decay. Beasts half alive half rotten roamed about. As we walked Cript kept snapping their fingers, and devistating magic destroyed the undead animals.
"So, how have you two been?" Cript asked. A snap, and an undead hippo/griffon looking thing was roasted to its bones.
“Doing good.” I said honestly. “I’m the one that punches really hard, Cerex here is the tank.”
"That's a good combo." Cript nodded. Snap, electrocution of an undead giant ant.
“So this is...well this is supposed to be a Max Level Dungeon because of Void Mother.” I frowned.
"So I heard." Cript sighed. Snap, roasted giant tiger/Chipmunk. "Being powerful sucks."
“So me and Cerex here was basically a waste of time…” I pouted.
"Not at all. You all need to get stronger, especially against Vincent. This war… he'll have me in your party already is making you two stronger. You notice your exp bars?"
I took a look… it's moving. Fast. "Passive exp gain?" Cerex asked.
"Yup. Like I told King, I'm Vincent's handy work." They huffed.
“Damn.” I said in surprise. “That is...a lot of experience right now.”
"Give it an hour, it doesn't stop." Cript sighed. Snap, frozen undead five headed snake. He threw a small rock at it, and it shattered into crimson shards. "Trust me, I've tried."
“You don’t sound too happy about it.” I pointed out.
"Being strong gets old. You become so strong that at a point the fights, no matter how big end up feeling… hollow. I tried suppressing and weakening myself, only worked for a week the longest."
“That sucks.” I said honestly.
"Does. But I moved off from Fighting. Exploring, world building, literally." Cript laughed at that. "Family, father and motherhood, and of course, I watch."
“That’s good.” I nodded. “Good to know things are at least working out in other ways.”
"Yeah, and as I watch I also help."
“Which is always a good thing.” I said happily.
"Enjoying the Speed Force?" Cript asked. I stopped, looking at them but they just kept on… did he?
“I...am enjoying the Speed Force.” I said slowly, looking at him carefully.
"I played around with it for a while, it's fun. Drains energy like a bitch though… something else that didn't last long." Snap, okay crispy undead pork smells horrible.
“What do you mean?” I asked curiously.
"You know how it takes in energy your body gets from food right? My body takes in the excess energy I generate, a lot, and uses it over food. Speed force for a time drained that but my body adapted. I'd run around the planet a million times and barely a dent when ten used to nearly empty my energy reserves."
“Sounds about right.” I said honestly.
"Sometimes I wonder why bother making me, especially now that I know Vincent just treats this all as a game or entertainment."
"King...doesn't think that's actually Vincent." I brought up. “He doesn’t know what Vincent is right now, but just from what he gathered from his encounter with Vincent and what you told him is setting off a lot of red flags for him.”
"No offense but a warm breeze in winter can set that wolf off." Cript said, a chuckle from Cerex in response. "There's paranoid, then there's aluminum hats… king's somewhere in between and flipping between the two."
“But you got to admit there is something fishy about this Vincent ya know?” I pointed out.
"When you've seen as much shit as I have you stop bothering to look into it cause it all just shows itself after a while. After the what, fifteenth time you notice the patterns."
“Alright.” I nodded. “But you do know King is going to want to beat the shit out of Vincent now right?”
Cript sighed. "No he won't." Snap, frozen giant… what was that a hawk? Either way, it's frozen broken shards now.
“What do you mean ‘no he won’t?” I asked curiously.
"Knowing patterns we will all end up fighting someone one on one for the final days of the war. Odds are, King is gonna be fighting Void Key. I'll be taking Vincent, Heart will be fighting who I am only assume will be their brother and I'm not actually sure about Eclipsa."
“That weird voice from that core King made?” I suggested. “Given that I have all of King’s memories, I do know about that...weird event.”
"And?"
“I’m just giving a suggestion.” I shrugged. “So...who the hell is on this floor? Cause I can’t tell based on just the enemies here.”
Cript took a look around, then back at that giant frozen bird. He walked over to it, and I noticed it wasn't a bird… it was a bug, specifically… a Hornet… "Odds are… someone King knows all too well." Cript sighed. "Me too…"
“A hornet?” I asked nervously. “Wait...that familiar scent from before…”
Cript took a sniff as well. I smelled it again, taking it in deeper. I didn't realize before, half pony, half the nose power… "Den…" Cript said sadly. "I'd know her smell anywhere…"
I teared up involuntarily. “Why...why would we be fighting Den of all people?”
"Ironic… I first met Den she was possessed and out of her mind… to see her like that again…"
“I…” I started. “We need to save her.”
I saw Cript give a small smile. "Saving people. I tend to do that better than anyone."
“So you better get these.” I said while bringing out Second Chance and Love Struck.
Cript just looked at them, giving a smirk before looking around. Snap.
…
Silence… then, crying. Instinctually, I ran towards it. In a small crib where Cript snapped their fingers, was a small little baby Creature. Part Tiger, part goat it seems. "Awh!" Cerex said, rapidly coiling around the crib and baby defensively.
“They're adorable.” I chuckled.
"I'll teach you the spell." Cript said, walking up to us. "Basically the same effect as Second Chance."
“Good to know.” I said honestly.
"So, wanna break this damn dungeon?"
“King has been wanting to so we can get back on track cause we’re way behind.” I said honestly.
"Well then, let's break some rules." Cript said, holding out a hand. "Shall we?"
“We shall.” I said while taking Cript’s hand happily.
At taking their hand, I felt a rush of power. Smiling as the spell flowed into my mind I raised my free hand, and snapped my fingers.
"Lot more than I expected." Cript said as we gathered the last of the new infants into the floor safe room. Mini bosses were sadly unaffected but they were in locked rooms so I guess that was meant to be a fight regardless if the ones from Adam's floor said was right.
“Alrighty then, let’s keep going.” I said with a warm smile, glad to have made the floors a lot easier.
As Cerex sent the babies to safety back home, Cript and I went on ahead to the first miniboss. Unlike Adam's floor though, the key here wasn't a puzzle, it was a show of identity… whatever that means.
“Alright...so the hell does that mean?” I asked with a frown.
Cript frowned, looking around for a moment till they spotted the doors top. Looking up, I saw between many glowing blue and white leafs was a large circle plate of moonstone. "Wow… makes sense though. You need to howl."
“Ah, alrighty then.” I said, before doing a good dire wolf howl, hoping that would open the door.
The moonstone glowed for a while when I finished and the. The door swung open.
"Nice job. Cute howl." Cript said as he looked in.
“It wasn’t cute, it was strong.” I pouted. “But what’s inside?” Looking inside as well, the area was a large pit claw dug all around, large rocks and boulders making a makeshift wall all around. In the center of this makeshift Arena on all fours was a large wolf, Silver fur glowing bright with energy as they howled up to the sky, the sky here showing a clear starless sky with the full moon as the only light.
“Who’s that?” I asked, not sure if that was Den because of certain reasons or if it was someone else.
Cript blinked. "Not sure. Their enemy ID say they're just called Silver Wolf."
“That’s...strange.” I started while moving towards the arena. “Well...let’s not keep them waiting.”
"You wanna cheese them or fight them?"
“Well…” I started. “Can I do both?”
"Go ahead." Cript said, stepping to the side to allow me the full floor.
“Alright.” I nodded while stepping into the arena. “Alright you, time to fight.”
The wolf growled, spreading their legs to get ready to charge me.
I cracked my knuckles and prepared to fight. “Alright you, time to give you a proper fight.”
The Silver Wolf just stood there, then howled, a beam of pure primal energy shooting right at me.
“Bitch please!” I shouted as my arm glowed a silver light as I punched the beam of energy right back at the wolf using my outlandish strength and a reflect spell.
The wolf sidestepped the reflected blast, and was rushing around me, keeping a distance as they howled more beams at me.
I dodged the beams swiftly as I charged at the wolf, both my arms changing to a solid black color as Armament Haki strengthened my arms even more than my normal passives as I leaped forward and tried to slam my fist into the thing.
It tried to side step my attack but I hit one of its legs and it was sent flying, spinning and crashing into the wall.
“Damn, didn’t think hitting it’s leg would send it flying like that.” I said honestly.
"You're borrowing some of my power, are you really that surprised?" Cript asked.
“You do know I have outlandish strength right?” I pointed out. “As well as all the other natural buffs I have.”
"Point?" Cript asked as I dodged another howl blast.
“My point is that people can be strong without your power being involved.” I said honestly while bolting forward to the wolf and slamming my fist into the wolf again.
"I know, but this helps make this whole thing go by faster. That is why I'm here after all."
“True.” I said, moving behind the wolf and grabbing them by the tail and starting to slam them into the ground.
After a short while of doing that, I gave them a hard punch, the Silver Wolf flying towards Cript who just spin kicked it back to me. Side stepping I let it slam into the wall and watched as it's HP bar hit Zero and vanished in a flash of white and silver light. On the floor was…
It took a lot to keep myself together at seeing this, nearly unfusing at the sight. It was the tooth necklace Den gave King.
“Oh sweet lord…” I groaned while putting a hand up to my head. “That hurt…” I muttered while taking the necklace. “Jesus...it’s been so long.”
"Looks like it's a key then. That's the first thing mini bosses drop." Cript said, walking over to me. "You okay?"
“Me, I’m fine...King not so much…” I sighed out while picking up the necklace and looking at it.
"That was one of the few things Den had when she joined the family. That necklace and a culture's worth of stories." Cript sighed. "It's gonna hurt seeing her when we reach the boss room…"
“This is already straining my fusion as is…” I said honestly. “She...gave King this, as a gift saying he was the best hunter of his generation...it meant the world to him…”
Cript sighed. "Need help?"
“I just…” I sighed out. “Yeah, I need help...King needs help.”
Cript nodded. "In a way, it's probably best you are here and not King. This floor alone might nearly break them… here." Cript took my head in their hands… suddenly I felt… lighter. King's powerful emotions on this fucked up floor were there but felt… less. "I've suppressed your link to King and also Coco. It's temporary, help to keep you together just in case. They can't see what's happening here anymore, or feel, hear, ect. They have other matters to focus on."
“Like the two cuddling back home where Coco’s trying to cheer King up to the best of her ability.” I said honestly.
"Yeah. Let's not let them feel worse then. Come on." Cript said, taking my hand. "Two more mini bosses."
“This is gonna hurt still…” I sighed out. “Even if I’m not King...I still have their memories.”
"I know…"
The next mini boss door was different. It was frozen over a pond of sorts. "Wonder how this one works?" Cript asked looking over the ice.
“Well...who knows how to ice skate?” I asked curiously.
"Don't look at me." Cerex said. "No legs."
"I don't skate." Cript said.
I sighed out. “Thank god Coco learned how to ice skate.” I muttered while bringing out some hoof skates and starting to skate around.
As I was doing so I looked up, the high up tree top parting just enough to… ah, got it. With graceful spins, jumps and glides Soon the ice mimicked the silhouette in the treetops, a wolf in howl.
As I got off the cracks in the ice glowed bright til finally the ice broke, emerging from the water below was a wolf made from icy frost and mist.
Wolf of Winter.
I brought up my fists, which then suddenly burst into flames from one of my talents. “Alright, time to bring the heat in this winter wonderland.”
I rushed the wolf, lining a punch right to it's face… that I phased though, falling into the water. "Oh, so it's a spectral enemy, not elemental. Clever camouflage." Cript said as I jumped out of the water. Wolf fur plus earth pony weather resistance… and that water was still stupid cold.
“Alright fine.” I said while coming up as my arms started producing a strange fog like cloud around it as I got out of the water quickly. “Phantom Fist.” I said, throwing my fist towards the wolf as a ghostly visage of my fist bolted towards it.
It floated, spinning around my fist and bit/phased through my head.
I blinked. I wasn't… where am…
Crunch.
I looked down, realizing I had something in my mouth. I was a full wolf… and I was eating… eating… puppies…
I screamed, the arena back in view. I can still… taste, feel them in my teeth… I looked up, the ghostly wolf floating before me and gaining distance.
“Oh…” I started. “Nope, I’m not dealing with that.” I started as I looked around the area. “If you’re too swift to punch…” I muttered, trying to use some of King’s deductive reasoning and Coco’s actual search skills to try and figure out what the hell is up here. As I looked around, I only saw the bare bones ice rink around me and the water below me...which is a lot deeper than a normal ice rink should be. “Wait...wait a second! I know what that bitch is!” I snapped. “You son of a whore!” I barked in rage as I dived down into the water, the water steaming around me as I was diving down towards where this bastard's corpse was. ”How dare you...you’re showing me memories...memories of Den…” I thought to myself, remembering when King was going through Den’s memories and remembering that horrid event.
As I swam deeper and deeper I could see bones all around the walls and floor. Finally I spotted a single bone that does not belong. A human skull, likely that fucking asshole that enslaved her!
As I swam down I grabbed the human skull and my hand glowed with pure energy. ”You will no longer haunt us anymore asshole!” I mentally screamed as I crushed the skull with my bare hands.
From the shards of bone I felt something in my hands. Looking, it was a dog whistle. That same one he used. Of course that’s the key item… Swimming back up I got onto solid ground, shaking off all the water and sighed. The ghost wolf was gone.
“If you didn’t turn King’s emotions off...he would have blown this entire place sky fucking high.” I said while raising the dog whistle. “And of course, this fucking thing is one of our key items.”
“First the Necklace, now that damned whistle…” Cript thought aloud as I put the cursed tool away. “Wonder what number three will be?”
“I’m gonna give Den a hug when I see her.” Cerex said sadly.
“King is already cuddling up to Den...even if he missed this part, I think he can take a guess as to what other things these mini bosses will have…” I sighed out sadly.
"Well, come on then. One more to go." Cript said.
The next arena was a cave, Den's cave. The once beautiful stories along the wall now stained in old blood. In the central chamber were bones. So many bones, young and old wolves in piles.
"Good Lord…" I muttered sadly at this entire room.
"I don't like this…" Cerex whimpered.
"Neither do I." Cript said, looking around.
"So...what's the boss here?" I asked worriedly.
"I can take two guesses…" Cript said, the bones starting to shake and the images on the walls, while stained over were moving from under their dried blood covering. "and it looks like both."
The bones began to rise where they stood, skeleton wolves ranging from old and weak, young and strong to infants began circling us with pulsating red and blue eyes while the images of the walls jumped off them, taking a spectral form. "Oh dear…" Cerex said.
"Please no…" I whimpered.
"Kico, Cerex." Cript said. "I'm gonna do something kinda stupid. Alright?"
"Go right ahead." I said simply.
Cript closed their eyes, hands placed together and… I felt… calm, so… calm. Looking over at Cript, they were… different, slightly. They looked at a halfway between themselves and being The Mother. "Shhh." They said softly, the skeletons and ghosts stopping instantly where they were. "It's okay, don't be scared." Kneeling, Cript held out a hand. Slowly, they walked to Cript. A small skeletal pup the closest. Smiling, Cript pet then, their bones flashing bright as suddenly they had flesh, fur and life. Cript did the same for the rest, undead of bones and spirit were given flesh and blood again at Cript's touch.
When all was done Cerex sent them home, and Cript began shifting back to normal. When it was done, they collapsed.
"Dumb ass!" Turning, I saw Cerex unfused, Kexez and Jericho back as Jericho rushed next to Cript. "A halfway transformation into The Mother?! Even for you that was stupid!" Jericho yelled.
"Worked didn't it?" Cript said, sounding tired.
"I take it thats a big no no right?" I asked nervously.
Jericho huffed. "When we transcend, become Belief and The Mother, it's supposed to be a permanent transformation. No halfway about it, Cript literally managed to burn nearly all their energy keeping it at that halfway point and even more reverting from it. Doing that should not even be possible."
"Since when does Impossible stop me?" Cript asked, sounding offended.
"For fucks sake if you weren't Deathless odds are that would have killed you. None of the prior mother's we've talked to have done that."
"Add that to the list of shit I can do other me's haven't or can't." They sighed with a roll of their eyes. "Damn, haven't felt a bit out like this in a long time."
"You'll be good?"
"Yeah. Body of mine adapts to everything, remember? Just gonna be a few minutes. Half an hour at most but I doubt it will take that long."
"Well...at least your okay." I said honestly.
"You know I'm gonna punish you for this. If I don't Lyra will." Jericho said.
"And you'll do what?" Cript asked with a raised eyebrow.
Jericho took one long jump back over to Kexez, the two becoming Cerex again as they slithered up to Cript, and swallowed them for healing. "That… sorry, but at least this way you will heal faster." Cerex said with a sigh. "So… is that the key?"
Turning I looked where Cerex was pointing. It was a single tooth left on the ground. Walking over I picked it up and sniffed it… Den, she lost a tooth? No, this is too small… baby tooth..
"It's a...baby tooth?" I asked curiously. "Her baby tooth?"
"Awh, so cute!" Cerex said, looking at it. "Why her baby tooth though?"
"I...don't know." I said while trying to go through Kings memories, trying to see if Den told him anything about this.
I couldn't find any… maybe it's more of a symbolic thing. I pocketed it, and Cerex and I headed to the safe room to rest up til Cript was out and about.
“God...even after Cript made the link more bearable…” I put a hand to my head. “King’s emotions are still a hell of a thing…”
"Den is their mother, lover and friend. Fact is, this floor likely won't be the last hard floor on them, Coco maybe even, Maybe even Myself, Jericho and Kexez."
“Still…” I sighed out. “God, this sucks…”
"It does, all we can do is win and move on."
“I know...it still sucks though.” I huffed.
"These things are never easy."
“Cause why wouldn’t things be easy?” I frowned.
"Want a distraction?" Cerex asked.
“Please…” I said. “Even if it’s just cuddles..”
Cerex used her tail to lift me up, making me slide down her tail to her waste as she wrapped her arms around me. "I want kisses." She said, her lips meeting mine and the faint taste of blueberry mint hit me shortly after her tongue made itself home in my mouth.
I kissed Cerex happily, just wanting some feeling of closeness and good instead of feeling like garbage because of this floor.
We stayed like that for a long while, the two of us enjoying this greatly. We didn't have sex, no mood for it. We both layed there in each other's arms on the grass covered floor. "Ever think we should go to school or something?" Cerex asked.
“Why do you say that?” I asked curiously.
"Well, I know between the people who make us up we have more than enough smarts but it feels kinda borrowed to me. Plus I'd like a degree."
“Eh, sounds about right.” I shrugged. “Me? I don’t think it’s really ‘borrowed’ per se, but I understand what you mean.”
"Ever wanna go clubbing?"
“Like parties or smacking someone with a club?” I asked.
"Parties silly." Cerex said, giving me a small push and laughed. "Dress up slutty, drink and do shit we'd want to forget later."
“I’m pretty sure I’d have more women drooling over me than you.” I said while bringing up my arm and flexing it. “Seriously, I’m buff as hell.”
"Men, women, herms, I'm down with whoever and whatever." Cerex said playful. "Besides, these babies catch all the eyes." She pressed her arms into her multiple breasts. I stared. "Case in point." She smirked at my stare.
“It’s not my fault you not only have multiple tits...but they're all really big…” I blushed.
"And soft, and bouncy, and hypnotic." She added with a grin. "If we do go I am gonna enjoy all those looks I'll be getting."
“I can imagine.” I chuckled. “But they do look nice.” I said while giving one of her tits a quick little squeeze.
She took the hand I used to squeeze her breast with, kissed it gently before holding my appendage like it was a treasured item. "One of these days, I'd like a wedding, just you and I. I know us being in this family is already a thing, but I would love a wedding of my very own someday."
“So would everyone else.” I said warmly. “But...I would love to marry you Cerex.”
“I want to marry you Kico.” Cerex said as she kissed me again. “When we get out of here, can we do just that?”
“Of course.” I said happily. “The first marriage between fusions in the Royal Family? That’ll surely make headlines, oh! Kity would make absolutely amazing outfits for us.”
“Hmm, make it a three way wedding?” Cerex purred in my ear. “Make one fun honeymoon~”
“It’s going to be a wonderful honeymoon.” I giggled happily.
Cerex and I cuddled for several more hours, enjoying each other's touch and embrace. I began wondering, it’s been at least five hours… wonder why Cript isn’t out yet?
“Shouldn’t Cript have been back by now?” I asked curiously.
“According to Jericho’s memories,” Cerex said sleepily. “Cript when healing or even when just in someplace comfy, they sleep like in a hibernation state. This actually leads to some interesting passive abilities when Cript does this though.” Cerex said, sitting up as they sorted through Jericho’s memories.
“Sounds neat.“ I said honestly. “Just hope he gets here soon, with him here we should be doing maybe two floors or more per chapter.”
“No fourth wall breaks!” Cerex said, tackling me as suddenly I was buried under her many fluffy soft breasts. “It’s only good with Deadpool.”
“Eclipsa does it and no one argues with that.” I said, my voice muffled by the floofy boobs.
“Eclipsa is Eclipsa.” Cerex said, pressing their body weight onto me now… this feels good. “Put that mouth to better use and nurse, I’m feeling motherly~”
I blushed a bit before latching onto her nipple and gently sucking on it, snuggling up to my lover.
We stayed like that for another good few hours. I wasn’t sure how long exactly and I didn’t care as I drank from Cerex’s breast and cuddled to her as close as we could get without fusing. After a while I had quite the milk swollen belly, and kept drinking despite that. It was good milk, and Cerex has plenty to give to me. After more time passed and I felt like I was nine months pregnant with fifty babies, I stopped drinking and just nuzzled into Cerex’s breast, so soft, so smooth, like the perfect pillow.
“This is nice…” I said warmly.
Cerex held my head against her breasts, petting me gently and being motherly as I held her torso as best I could. “Sleepy?” She asked me softly.
“Yes...you’re so comfy, soft and smooth, like the perfect pillow.” I said lovingly.
“Oh really?” She said. Suddenly she moved a lot. Lifting me up and suddenly I was cradled in her coiled form, my head resting comfortably on her top breasts as she looked at me, holding my head and making me sleepy and feel so… safe.
“This is nice.” I said lovingly.
“You should sleep too love, what comes next won’t be easy. Sleep.” She cooed, kissing my forehead. “Rest, we are safe now and when you and Cript are ready we will finish this floor.”
“Alright…” I yawned softly and cuddled up with Cerex. “Good night…” I muttered, starting to doze off.
“Sweet Dreams Kico.” Cerex said as I began to drift into blissful sleep.
The Sleeping World, the Dream Realm. FIrst time here actually… Hmm… I found myself wearing a short skirt, sports bra and top with baby blue sneakers. I was in… wait, where is this? It looks like home but… empty… The walls were cracked and dull, the floors dirty and stained, the ceiling in bad shape as the rest of the place and just… this whole place was in ruins...
“Dream Realm of the Void.” I turned, finding Cript. They looked… different, younger, wearing a full body brown robe and holding a staff, the top decorated with a gold and hooked ring. “First time here too, whole place is freaky as all hell.”
“So why are we here?” I asked worriedly.
“Sleep, dreams. Whether you remember it or not we always enter the sleeping worlds, the dream realm. The void has its own, because it’s linked to the waking worlds, like two sides of a coin. Creation fell into the void after every cycle, so does the Dream Realm, and gets twisted and corrupted just like the rest of reality. But, this can be very, very useful to us at the moment.”
“How so?” I asked curiously.
“The past and future from the Sleeping World’s point of view is both a line and a spiral, like a tornado with points in time flying by like paper in the wind. If we can find one of the unstable points, we can learn both our past and future to better prepare for the war, and, with luck, find some info on others.”
“Well...that sounds neat.” I said honestly.
“Let’s get going then.” Cript said as they opened the nearby door.
The halls were so… broken. It hurt a lot so see this. There were… Nightmares? Dream Eaters I think but so void corrupted. What might have been a Nightmare Meow Wow looked to have eight spider-like legs, a mouth open along its belly with sharp teeth sticking out and eyes handing out of their sockets and looking in every direction wildly as it walked along the walls.
“Well this place is...unsettling…” I said nervously.
“Void twists everything, realm of sleep is no acception.” Cript shrugged as we moved passed the void corrupted Dream Eater.
As we made our way though the halls, seeing more and more of the twisted nightmares we finally made it outside… and the town was worse. All the buildings and houses nearby were leveled rubble, crawling over their remains was more void nightmares and other creatures I don't know what they were.
"Jesus damn…" I muttered sadly. "What the hell happened here?"
“Broken and forgotten dreams.” Cript said simply. “No one to dream, only nightmares, only the void, so the dream realm fell to ruins. Only Void monsters and their nightmares live here.”
"Is...there anyway to restore it?" I asked worriedly.Is there...anyway to fix this?” I asked worriedly.
"Kill the void mother." Cript offered. "Course any other void based being in existence will also die as their primary foundation will be gone."
“And then Nothingness falls because Void doesn’t exist and then it becomes a domino effect where everything just dies.” I frowned.
"Yup. In the end though, why bother fixing this? I mean, why remove the void? In my experience, the void is typically a kill or be killed place. It used to work like creation does now. Safe zones for building, farming and living, wild places filled with dungeons, wild monsters, ect. When she became what she is now, that all fell apart. The whole place is like this because she just hasn't fixed that."
“So we just fix it.” I said simply. “Can’t be that hard right?”
"The only one who can is the void mother herself, or an Admin of void, which mind you has never existed. The only people who come close to that are you, Coco, Maxella and- oh shit!" Cript said aloud in realization.
“I mean, there’s also John and Hollow and who’s Maxella?” I asked curiously.
"Max and John's birth mom. Also yeah them too. But that's not important, Void Key. His void type is different. It might be different Enough for him to be something like an Admin if not one genuine."
“Oh for fuck sakes…” I groaned.
"I doubt he can alter this realm, but if he learns to make his own… assuming he hasn't already." Cript pondered.
“Cause that’s what we need right now…” I sighed out.
"This might be good though." Cript said. "If he made his own realm inside the void the structure code wise would be like shoving a fuck tone of clothes inside a small drawer, the leaks would be noticably both in the dream realm and physical realms. If we can find the spills here we can figure out where Void key is, or at least the entrance to his realm in the void."
“You do know when we find this King is going to kick down his front door and start mauling whatever Void Key has right?” I pointed out.
"King needs to learn to control his actions. A direct attack would be suicide, even if he is Deathless, dumbass." Cript sighed. "You'd think he'd know how to control their emotions."
“You’d think he would be more sensible when he’s been literally the only one hunting the fucker down.” I brought up. “And yes, he was the only one, why do you think he’s had that in big bold red letters at the top of his list?”
"Cause he hates void key on a deep personal level?"
“That’s part of it, but it’s also to stop the bastard before he gets to his full strength or figures out how to do something extremely bad.” I said honestly.
"Hmm…" Cript pondered aloud. "We know he needs hosts to do anything. His perfect host was meant to be Coco, and we know he's targeting the Admins of fear as backups, so that means as a baseline Void Key is more of a parasite. Without a host, he can't do anything I'd guess. This also means each host he can only do what they can do… so for him to become an Admin he needs an Admin as a host, but if he already has a realm… shit, he might have already gotten to one or both of them… or someone else."
“And that’s what King fears, all this ‘he needs’ bits...what if Void Key doesn’t need all of that anymore? What if he could just make more of himself as a massive army of Void Keys? That’s what King is scared of, Void Key not needing a host, being able to do things himself and having an army of himself at the same time.”
"I don't think that would be their goal. I think he is like an infection, and wants to make everything himself."
“And what better way to do that by having an army of himself beating down everyone and stealing their bodies for his own?” I asked.
"True, but remember not every body he takes over lasts. They burn out, only ones like Coco or the Fear Admins can last him, so odds are, there is something special he needs in his hosts."
"And he can't just give that to his hosts because of his admin powers?" I inquired.
"He's not a true being remember? He's a parasite, he is limited to what his host can do so even if he has an admin host it won't help him if he can't himself become an admin. Even if he does use his admin host to make compatible blank bodies to use, those blank bodies are as useful to him as blank paper, no abilities, no powers. He'd more put his resources to figuring out how to create a means of perfect Infection on any host."
"The impossible has been made possible before…" I said.
"Which means he needs resources, no admin can made void based resources so they'll be having to gather them in tons… including Keyblades…" Cript pondered, twirling their staff around.
"These are all a bunch of things King doesn't want to gamble on 'maybe', cause he's been gambling less and less on maybes as of late."
"It's not maybes, more a definite. But, being here we can find out just how far they have gotten to… hmm… maybe we can track them using that. Kico, can you pull out some void from your reserves right now?"
“Sure.” I said while bringing out some Void into my hands. “Why do you ask?”
Cript held their hands over mine, the void burning him but not really hurting them as they flowed code into it and into my palms. "Coco was built to hold and use Void Key and his Void type. That means there should be either a core or an imprint somewhere in her code. If I can find that, I should be able to create a tracking script that can track anything or anyone using Void Keys void. Excluding you and Coco." Cript said.
"That would be good." I nodded. "Let's hope this works."
Cript poked and prodded inside the void and Coco's half of my code. After several minutes they pulled back, code flowing from their own hand that moved around for a bit before pointing in a direction. "Perfect. Now to just…" He placed his hand over the code, a flash and when he opened it, there was a compass. No directional north, south, east and west, just the needle pointing one way. "There."
"Cool." I said honestly. "Can't wait to see what it's pointing to."
"Or who." Cript added as we followed the needle.
We walked for what seemed like hours, was in all likelihood but void time was weird enough, void realm of sleep time I did not wanna think about. Finally though we found what seems to be a camp of sorts. Two Nexus, one human one Equestrian, non anthro, the Equestrian had a large great sword that pulsated with Void Keys void energy as they used it to bleed out a… something. It was a void beast but I can't tell what it is, it's all fur and blood as far as I can see. "Gotta play this good. Typically they have cynenide pill tooth, grenade tooth and an instant kill chip in their heads that activate if they say the wrong thing. Likely altered to resist or be immune to knock out spells or gasses so… what do we do?" Cript asked me.
"I haven't dealt with Nexus, and King barely has." I said honestly.
"Got anything creative you can think of?"
I pondered… the biggest issue is those chips and suicide teeth…
I activated Electronium abilities, something I haven't dabled in but King has. Using this I sensed their neural pathways, how the electricity flowed through their bodies and in and out of the chips. That would need surgery. Realizing something, I smirked, and one swap to their pathways and done.
The two nexus dropped to the ground. Comatose, at least until I fix their neural pathways. "Clever girl." Cript said with a nod of approvement. "King would have went head on and ended up with corpses."
"I'm sure King would have thought of it as well." I said honestly. "He just doesn't remember half the things he's maxed out in his skill trees."
We got back up and headed over. Cript began removing Nexus's suicide teeth and even began to remove their kill chips… gross. I looked over the beast they were bleeding dry. "Well well well, isn't this a surprise." I stood on edge… that voice. I turned to the Great sword laid on the floor next to me… Void Key. "My proper host and my greatest annoyence sharing body, mind and soul. How cute."
"The only reason why I'm not making you beg for mercy is because we have questions you sack of shit." I growled.
"Ever asking questions and never learning the answers. Never asking the important questions, the why's and how's catch your mind more than the who and what of the matter."
"Cause I want to know your life's story instead of just making your life a living hell." I frowned.
"Those who are wise look at both the future and past in searching for answers. I have seen, searched and watched past, present and future for many cycles. I have seen enough to know the shift in the winds, and know now my time to act is fast approaching. Can you sense the difference in this cycle? The vital change that makes this one so unique compared to its predicessors?"
"Besides the fact Vincent isn't Vincent and Void Mother first met us in the Tomb?" I asked. "And we know where you are, King is preparing to kick your ass."
"Then pray tell, where am I?"
"Right here?" I deadpanned.
“Heh, a fragment of me, yes. Part of my power, but I myself am elsewhere. For me, this is no different than your Starfish clones. An easily disposable vessel.”
“Alright.” I said simply, as I started to pull out Void Key’s Code with Coco and King’s experience and knowledge. “Now whether you like it or not, I’m going to learn everything about you you sack of garbage.”
“You act as if this will help you.” As I was trying to pull his code I felt this… burning in my chest. It began flowing through my body and...and… I dropped Void Key, the damn asshole was laughing. “Coco is my perfect vessel! And I fight and destroy King’s Nothingness! Fusion you may be, that core from me resides in your code too! Contact with me just lets me activate it; and learn. Kico, what a simple name. But a good host you’d make as well, so should Choco, Zeco, Brain, Spitfire and Symbi, so long as Coco is part of the foundation, you’d all make wonderful, powerful hosts.”
“You wish it was only one sided.” I growled. “King is going to find you and make you regret ever being made, and so will a whole lot of other people.” I said, now knowing quite a bit more about this bastard.
“Promises Promises yet what shall be kept? I hope for a grand display when I can meet King face to face.”
“So, making a new perfect host then?” Cript asked, done removing the kill chips and fixing their surgery marks.
“I built Coco’s blueprints, well before she was born. I can improve and adapt, just as Vincent always has with you and your siblings Cript.”
“And no matter what changes you do, no matter how you ‘adapt’...” I growled. “It will be for absolutely nothing.”
“Threats are a two way street Kico. Tell me, how many children does King and Coco have together? How many about you? Ever notice you’re a bit slower in that department?”
At that, Cript placed a code flowing hand on me. “... He’s right… According to this code, Coco has no ovaries… and yours just infuse Coco’s DNA into King’s. Doesn’t merge them like normal fusions do.”
“Perfect to grow your own from an existing foundation. DNA and Code. So different yet so similar.”
I stared at Void Key, trying to process what I was hearing...only for my fist to glow a greyish color as I rammed my fist into Void Key, the being’s true form feeling enormous pain from where it originally stood. “I’m going to break you.” I growled, tears falling down my eyes as the pain of Coco and myself was brought down on us.
Void Key, just laughed. “Your pain, only keeps me fueled and inspires, how many of your own children should I-”
Crack.
The sword that Void Key spoke from shattered, Cript’s outstretched fist leaving it shards as that damned weapon shattered into shards smaller than sand. “Now he’s pissed me off.” Cript said, looking over to me, then, gave me a hug. “If he does… we can save them. I know we can. I don’t break promises, no matter how impossible they seem.”
I hugged Cript and cried. “I...I can’t...I can’t have children…”
“Shhh.” Cript said, holding me tight as I cried. “Void Key screwed up, cause now I am putting him atop my hit list. He took that special power from Coco, from you in his actions. Stole it, well we are getting it back and saving the ones he uses. I swear.”
“I...know I hurt him.” I said while looking at my hand. “I...don’t know where that Grey came from but...I just know I hurt him bad.”
“Good, fuckers like him need to get hurt. Remind them they are mortal. Come on.” Cript said, letting me go and turning to the two still unconscious nexus. “Now we can get answers. Maybe not the ones we need, but they will lead us somewhere.” Cript said, kneeling to the two. A snap of his fingers and they woke up, the second they saw us they tried to get up but were tied up. “Now then you two, we can do this the easy way…” Cript said, one of their fingers shifting into a metallic claw. “Of the hard way.”
“I just learned I can’t have kids.” I growled to the two. “So either you tell us everything you know, or I swear to god whatever he does to you I will do something ten times worse. And you don’t have any of your safety net bullshit here.”
Cript took a deep breath. “So?” He asked, trailing his metallic claw finger around the Equestrians face, blood following as the Nexus resisted screaming. Once Cript made a full trace around their face, he put the tip of his claw finger under their cut face, and pulled. The Equines face ripped off in a spray of blood as they yelled in pain. “Let’s get started.”
The two were tougher than I expected. Cript tortured them and I asked the questions. Both of them were skinless, limbless quarter alive husks with their guts and organs pulled from their insides and circling them. THat…. Nearly made me sick, but I was too pissed to let it get to me.
Turns out Void Key has been hunting the dream form of Void Wolves in this place, keeping them from sleeping by making their sleeping forms eternally painful so they don’t sleep, get weak so he can attack their den without much resistance. That bloody fur thing handing was formerly a Void Wolf, or their dream realm self at least. They have several bases mainly run by Void Key in this place, and a few that are from Nexus. “Thank you for cooperating.” Cript said, washing the blood off their hands and face. Their robe though was ruined. “You can wake up now, and warn your friends… cause I’m pissed.” Two blasts of fire magic, and the two were ash on the ground.
“Cool.” I said. “Now we need to find the Void Wolves much faster...cause King’s time table haven't already been fucked into a crater before.”
“Well then, let’s get to it.” Cript said. A wave of their hand and the ground under us floated and we were off towards the nearest base. We sat, and Cript gave me another hug. “I can probably undo the code work he did to Coco, and there for you, but your, Coco’s, first ovaries, we will get them back.”
“I’m going to make Void Key pay...me and King…” I said as I hugged back again.
“For now, let’s kick some ass. Just be warned… bases like this are… not pretty. At least you can direct your anger at them deservingly.”
“Oh I’m going to do some really bad things to these people.” I said while cracking my knuckles.
"You beat their asses while I nab all their data. Every little thing helps. Any prisoners we free if they aren't mindless beasts."
“This is gonna be fun.” I said while energy sparked off of me. “They believe they know speed and power, but I’m gonna show them they know nothing.” I growled as I vanished towards the base, the Solid Dark Monofilament wall turning into nothing but a pile of rubble as I had my fist out. “Knock knock motherfuckers!”
There weren't as many as there could be and most all armed. Speed Force out classes energy weapons and firearms. As I was tossing them into the still standing parts of the wall at mach 2 speed I saw Cript speeding inside the base itself. Once they were all tossed painfully I let them wake up even more painfully as I then took a look around. Cages were everywhere but only a quarter were full. There was only one cage that had Void Wolves in it, and just three, the rest held Void Dream Eaters, the mutated monsters hissing and clawing at their confines.
“Alright, time to save some Void Wolves.” I said while grabbing the cage bars and ripping the entire cage in half. “Are you three okay?”
Their replies were snarls, taking cautious sniffs at me. "You don't belong here, half-breed." The left, largest one spoke.
“And neither do you, and while the full breed, the one that’s been trying to find you all, isn’t here right now, I’m here to save you.” I said simply.
"Yet your reek of the poison that has plagued us for eons." The middle one said.
"Nothingness." The right and last one growled. "That vial poison touched us once and to this day the effects can be felt in our bones and blood."
“And yet I’m a fusion of the two.” I said simply, bringing up my hand and Void energy radiated off of it. “But right now we need your help in dealing with this crap. I don’t care if you’re against helping Nothingness, but it’s a hell of a lot better being murdered by Void Key.”
They all growled at the name. "The accursed abomination has been weakening us for weeks now." The middle one said. "Restless sleep has made even our strongest weary. And his minions hunt us both here and in our home forest. It is worse than when the Admin of War enslaved a pack so long ago."
"Justice came for him, thankfully." The largest one added. "And the pack's descendants have merged with our own."
“Right now the person that wanted to find you is thankfully figuring out a way to make Nothingness not poisonous to you people, and he’s making great headway in it. We just need to find where you’re home forest is to stop these attacks in the waking world.”
The three looked at me for a time. "We… can not accept the help of an outsider, the den elder would forbid it."
"However," The right most one added. "Pray tell, half breed, what den race birthed you? Your mixed blood makes it unclear to determine."
“I…” I started, thinking back to King’s race. “They call themselves Dire Wolves...but the more I think about it, with what my own half has learned and gone through...I don’t think their really called Dire Wolves...but thanks to those fucking hornet’s all that might have been lost to time…” I sighed out.
The middle one smirked. "A half breed belonging to a forgotten pack is quite upsetting." Their smirk was then replaced by a frown. "You speak of Hornets. Pray tell, were they massive, the size of the largest of bolders and killed centuries ago? Who was the wolf who ended them?"
"Yes and bigger, and the wolf that killed them is the same person that needs your help. He went by another name a long time ago, but his current name is King." I explained.
They growled at hearing King's name, that made me confused. "The Lord of our poison wanting to help? It seems much like the void, creation and nature itself has gone wild and unpredictable." The right one said.
"What proof do you have of his word?" The larger one asked.
"He's willing to do your rite of passage, or whatever you want to prove his word." I said simply. "And so am I."
"The source of Nothingness can never preform our rite of passage." The middle one said. "To become one of us they would need to drink the waters of the void, let it empower them. King can never partake in the ritual."
"Knowing him, he'd dive head first into it to prove himself. But if he won't be enough, how about me? I have Void powers so I can do it right?" I asked curiously.
The three looked at one another for a time. "Perhaps, can you take a feral Form half breed?"
"Yes." I nodded while shifting into my feral form, which was the best combination between the flexibility and agility of a dire wolf with the strength and endurance of an Earth Pony. "Does this work?"
"They look like a fine snack." The large one said with a bite at the air in front of my nose. I didn't move. "Got guts, for a half breed of predetor and prey."
"If you truly wish to be of our pack, and form an alliance with the Lord of our natural enemy, you shall need to speak to the den elder."
"And where would they be?" I asked curiously.
The middle one gave a soft howl at the ground. The metal warped at the purity of the void they vocalized til there was the image of a gigantic rested inside a mountain, an equally massive arrow splitting it's skull in half. "This is Murdered Mountain, we will tell the elder to meet you here half-breed."
"Okay...so where the hell is that?" I asked. "I don't know the layout of the void…"
"Where are you in the waking void?" The right one asked.
"The Heroes Tomb, floor 21." I said.
They looked at one another again, this time in surprise. "The Heroes Tomb? There are few places we of the void dare not enter… And that dungeon tops the list right under the void mother's sanctuary."
"Well King, Jericho, Coco and Kexez wanted to beat it to have the treasures inside...also because the Void Mother told us to beat it on the hardest rank for bonus stuff."
They stared at me. "Clearly, the void hates you." Middle said bluntly.
“And when does the Void not hate something?” I deadpan countered.
“When they drip in blood and carnage.” The large wolf said.
Finally the trio got out of the cage, right and large left in stupid fast runs while the middle one stood there looking at me for a time. “If you run into more of these encampments, please, burn them to ashes.”
"Oh don't worry, I'm going to." I said simply.
“Good.” With that, she rushed off in a haze of void.
Shifting back to normal I turned and saw Cript walking out of the building. “Got all the data I could find, digital and physical. The rest is… unpleasant… So, ready for the next base?”
“Yep, just got done talking with some of the Void Wolves and finally found a way to get their help.” I said honestly.
"Cool. Now then, let's move." Cript said, a snap of their fingers and the building and the ground it was built on was raised to the heavens in an explotion of fire.
The rest of the bases went about the same, break in, wreck everything, take data, free any non hostile void beings and then blow it to the moon.
We were finally at the last camp, and when I say camp I mean camp. Tents and such were all that was here and it seemed to be… and excavation? "The hell are they digging up? Things don't die here, at least not normally."
“We should probably stop them before they find whatever they're digging for.” I said nervously.
Just like the others. Kick, punch(it’s all in the mind) and cleared.
The dig site went down quite a ways, deeper than Cript and I expected. When we reached its bottom there was a half dug out stone door.
“Well that’s...not good.” I started nervously. “Anything involving unearthing an ancient stone door can’t be good…”
"No it can not." Cript said, taking a shovel and began trying to dig the rest of the door out.
“And we’re finishing up the dig...why?” I asked worriedly.
"Do I strike you as the type of person to not know what my enemies were searching for when it's right in front of me? Or the type of person to look at an ancient door and not open it?" Cript asked bluntly.
“I mean...King would have done the same thing your doing.” I sighed out.
"Yeah but I have more experience at this than them." Cript said, the last of the dirt nearly moved as they swept the rest aside with the shovel's tip. With the door clear the entirety of it's artwork was on display. Lines of stone carved code decorated the doors. "Oh, now that is impressive."
“And...why the hell would an Admin door be here?” I asked nervously.
"Not an Admin door, an Admin grave." Cript said, looking over the carved code. "Lord told me way back ago when an Admin was going to die they'd take their whole realm with them to the grave, and hide the entrance. All their secrets, knowledge and their title up for grabs for an admin willing to rob the grave."
“So...we’re going to rob an admin’s grave?” I asked nervously.
"Yes and no." Cript said, letting code flow from them over the door. After several still minutes it began to shrink and shrink until it was no bigger than a domino tile. Cript then picked it up and pocketed it. "I'll have Lord look it over, figure out who it was and why Nexus wanted them."
“I mean...gaining an admin's power and realm are already two reasons why.” I said honestly.
"Not when Vincent is involved." Cript sighed. "There's always a much bigger picture."
“Cause there always needs to be a bigger picture.” I sighed out.
"Always is." Cript confirmed. "Alright, this was the last one those two knew about, let's blow this place to the dawn of time and get back to the dungeon."
“That would be great.” I said honestly. “Even if...I’d rather not…” I sighed out sadly, knowing what’s coming up next after the next in the dungeon.
"Hey." Cript said, walking over to me and holding my hands. "It will be hard, but it will end up fine." They said, giving me a smile. "Just leave it all to me, okay?"
“That’s if your spell doesn’t wear off just as we get to Den’s boss room and I unfuse…” I said honestly.
"It won't, and Don't worry." Cript said, giving me a kiss on the forehead. "Keep Hope Kico, before we leave this floor, Den will be herself again."
“Alright...I believe you.” I said gently. “Let’s...just hope things will be okay after this.”
Back in the dungeon, Cript was out of Cerex and I no longer had a massive belly filled with milk. Steadying myself we headed for the boss door. The door had a wolf's head statue sticking out of it.
We put the necklace on them, Den's tooth in the only tooth slot missing, and the whistle in it's mouth. Once we did, the mouth chomped, breaking the whistle as the door opened.
Inside, there was the coffin. The lid flying off as with a growling, haunting howl jumped out… Den. Her once beautiful coat was pale, patches missing where rotten skin and holes oozed void, her eyes now pale death rather than their lovely deep blue, and her teeth a sickly yellow instead of her pearly white ones.
“Oh god...it’s even worse than I thought…” I said sadly.
I looked over at Cript, who looked at me and gave me a small smile before turning back to Den. “Time to come home Den.” Cript said.
Den roared, and they charged. Cript in a blink seemed to have tackled Den, but then stopped her charge dead in their tracks and, to my shock, exploded. Not in fire, not in heat, in an all encompassing blast of divine magics, code and King’s Nothingness, the energies circling the two and flowing right into Den.
She roared and hissed, bit and scratched at Cript who ignored it all as they poured all that energy, that mix of code and spellwork into her.
Cerex wrapped around me, keeping me from getting blasted back by discharge of Cript’s energies.
Putting all my focus into seeing, I watched as slowly Den’s wounds healed, the void flow from her slowing as her holes closed, fur growing back at crawling pace. A secondary explosion of energy, the flow seeming to have tripled as Den was beginning to look more and more like the wolf we all loved.
“What...what is he doing?” I asked worriedly.
“Think of it like a blood transfusion.” Cerex said, her upper half keeping low in the fast flowing energy. “Den’s current energy is pretty much decayed and void tainted, Cript’s pumping her with enough fresh code, energy and Nothingness to revive her.”
“That’s...that’s fantastic.” I said honestly.
“It’s never been done before.” Cerex added. “Leave it to Cript to do the impossible.”
A third explosion of energies. I was nearly knocked back as I saw Den looking nearly completely normal, her eyes still that pale lifeless white. Her body was whole and complete. After several more intense minutes the energies stopped as rapidly as they began. Den stood there, her eyes back to normal but looked… hollow. Cript stood there, holding her head. “Den… come back to me, please.” They leaned in, kissing Den on the lips as there was a spark in her eyes, and I felt an energy that… I never felt before. It was… comfering, warm and made me feel safe and happy, as short as it was there.
Den blinked, her eyes back to being filled with life. She looked at Cript for the longest time. “C-Cript?” She asked shakily.
Cript just smiled, tears forming and falling. “Saved you again.” He said, the wolf hugging him tight, practically burying them in her embrace as she cried, cried in pain and in joy. Cript hugged her back just as tight.
“Almost like how they met.” Cerex said, uncoiling and slithering next to me. “I’d be romantic if it wasn’t so fucked up.”
“This...is something else…” I muttered, not sure what to say as my emotions were kind of messed up here. “Can...I go to her now?”
Cerex just pushed me forwards. Walking slowly til I was in front of them, Den opened her eyes and saw me, smiling as tears kept flowing. “Kico.” She said, shakily and with a smile. I jumped in, next to Cript as we all shared a tear filled hug.
“I’m...I’m so glad…” I said while nuzzling into Den. “I’m sorry…”
To be continued...