Say Uncle Re:yiffed
Chapter 8: A dream within a dream within a nightmare
'What was going on?'
'where was she?'
\t“Got to teach her magic.” She heard the twins chime in their usual mirrored singsong tone.
'What?'
\t“Shadows of the Ebon Vale!” She heard Anthony, he was shouting it; but not her Anthony, the voice was ever so different.
'What is going on?'
\t“ITS MINE!” this one filled her with fear, she knew this voice was Francis, nor was there even a trace of the man she loved in that tone. Anthony was completely missing.
\tThen a snap cried out. All silenced with the flash of a black hood. “Foolish mortals.” Otiv bemoaned having had to come fix yet another mistake; this time being having to fix. Oh just all of creation, scattered upon the workshop floor. After a creation had the nerve to try and reach for the Tellers Pen. Raising a hand to snap his middle finger against his thumb on his right hand. The snap crying out and ordering shape from the madness.
\tThen all was strange. A wash of feelings, sensations, emotions; but nothing solid or tangible, raw, primal, and unformed. It would have been like ink moving around like an ooze on a page. Rearranging itself as if it was trying to fix itself. But then suddenly as more and more pieces were put back into place by the boy wonder.
\tAnnie awoke in her bed. Her eyes opened and she pushed herself up off her uncle, startling the others. Anthony waking first and startling the twins awake as well. Little Jenny promptly giving a little yelp as she found herself falling and rolling ass over head over her uncles face; seemingly to have been hugging his head in her sleep. “Whats wrong sweetheart?” He asked her, but Annie glanced around. She could see waves still being tossed around, seemed she was the only who noticed them; and her heart was racing so hard. Even the Anthony before her wondered why she had fear in her eyes; but one glance told her this was not her Anthony. Then a wave of unease crashed down upon her as the system crashed once more and scattered this page upon the floor. Otiv now nowhere to be seen.
\tBut soon after as she heard someone softly humming; how she was well able to even be aware was a miracle in of itself. She heard the sashay of a cloak was followed by a soft gasp. Felt someone softly touch the side of her face, even if she didn't believe that right now … well she had a body. She did not know what was going on nor where she was. She did not believe she even had eyes able to be opened. But then she heard someone talking so softly to himself you'd not have noticed in anything but pure silence. He mentioned damaged pages and claw marks; and something about an amateurish penmanship and jelly doughnut. Muttered to himself that it would take some time to fix them with what little power he currently had to spare; but fuck it what else did he have to do? All the same one by one a page would be picked up and the cloak would shift. As a small body moved. Then once a stack of papers were collected and tapped together on maybe a desk. Suddenly the tapping of pencil on paper sang the song of its people; and suddenly Annie once again woke up.
~Author note~
~at this point the font is meant to change.
Barring the lack of ability to change font on IB
I will bold what would have been changed.
For note and record the font is meant to change to comic sans.
I will note when its change would end,
for now all bold text would be in the font of comic sans~
\tOnce again in the shelter of their wagon, Annie woke up far less violently this time. She opened her eyes gave a blink; then pushed herself up. No something was still not right she thought to herself; she could still feel the waves pulsing then would result a flicker on her visual overlay, they were far softer this time at least. Like the world was softly glitching or something that she only noticed due to her mask maybe? All the same she looked around, something was off but she could not seem to put her thumb on it. Sleeping in the pile of bed before her was herself, Anthony, and Jenny; who was currently being clutched to Anthony's chest by the wolf in question. That's it she thought, where were the twins she wondered? She asked in her mind as the pup looked around. But bar nothing. No trace of the lambs period; not even the usual stray pair of panties. Well for now Anthony didn't seem to be in a mood for waking, nor did her little sister. Who slept with her thumb in her mouth as Anthony held her snug to his chest, like she was his own little teddy. And outside the wagon the sounds of the caravan did ring out in the distance. So she got dressed then exited outside quiet as she could to avoid waking this Anthony; given the monsters she now knew lurked in the mans head, she dared not.
\tOnce she exited the wagon the small private compound for Anthony's inner circle so far still so good. No, something was once again off though however unlike the time's before she wasn't able to figure it out. Until a wave came changed the scene before her eyes then it flashed and flickered 'back to normal'. Right the twins aren't even in the inner keep, she thought to herself; even as she also managed to fail to notice. Hue and his plants where also entirely absent. So where are they she found herself wondering, still blind to the bull as before. So she walked away from their wagon to go looking; if they weren't here they must have still been around. I mean this entire stunt was for them to become knights; Annie muttered to herself in her head. So upon exiting the compound two of the kobolds armed with light armor and spears greeted her as lady. “Hey there, do you know where the Palemoon Twins are?”
\tOne of the two nodded pointed off a short ways away where another little camp like compound was staked down. “The Twin lords are camped over there.” The dog kobold barked out. With that Annie gave a nod and quickly thanked them. Before then heading over to the twins little camp, didn't take her more then ten minutes even on foot. She paused to look at humans and other morphs, and even some of the kobolds as she walked, before being greeted by the watchmen guarding the twins camp. She was however promptly let in, seemed all knew she was Anthony’s mate and greeted her as my lady. By what she could gather; Anthony was running the caravan more by the human books here.
\t
\tBut frankly what she found left her a little startled. The normally clean, cut, and by the books twins camp; even if the lambs liked to be sloppy sluts. Was in itself sloppy and make do; that was very unlike them she feared to herself. The lambs themselves looked frankly like shit. Deep bags under their eyes, sluggish reactions, minimal attention spans; almost no mana Annie was able to see, thanks to Truth Seer. In fact no makeup; those two took forever doing their makeup together. Right now Arie was trying to 'man the ship' so to speak, with Gemini badly out of balance due to the twins conditions, alone; as Sally seemed to slip in and out of consciousness where she was sat. Her levels of mana far to low to even be able to keep her mind lit; and sadly as a mage was unable to hold her mind from the plane of dreams. “Hey Ann,” Arie called out to her; well once the lamb finally realized the wolf watching them. Thank goodness she wasn't here to eat; the lambs would be chops already. “How's the day treating you guys?” Her train of thought however was broken when a yawn finally bested her and forced its way from her throat. “Anthony awake yet?” Though she almost asked like she was jonesing.
\t“No, not yet.” Annie replied to her, getting a nod from the lamb. Ann then looked over to Sally who suddenly shot up from her seat gave a frightened cry and backed away a few paces; stumbling and pushing herself away a few paces more. In nothing short of pure unadulterated terror. Both of the other girls raced over to help her, Arie having no choice but to cast a bit of magic to calm her twin. An act that left her much worse for ware as well. “Are you two ok?” Annie felt compelled to ask. Both of the lambs frankly looked like shit; like they'd not had any real sleep in some time. “You two look like you've been put through the ringer.”
\tOnce sally stopped screaming; which was very telling. She'd seen this very thing in Anthony before. Were the twins beset by the Scribes Annie found herself wondering? WAIT are they the reason they hunt my uncle?!? The girl shouted in her mind. The twins looked to one another before Arie then said. “Eh we're fine.” She lied, so obvious even Annie could tell she was full of it; without her title. “Just getting used to the road … it's hard to sleep in the carriage it rocks too much.” Once more Annie found herself wondering how full of shit were these lambs right now? How were their eyes not brown and breath not stink? The young work team could easily build that massive wagon for Hue; and designed in a way to prevent the little dryads motion sickness to boot. No way they couldn't handle a rocky carriage; Annie stated rather bluntly and matter of factually. However stating that little factoid in her head suddenly made her aware Hue was also missing; in fact unlike the twins themselves he was entirely gone no trace period. It was obvious something was wrong to her suddenly. In this world all of Anthony's friends have been pushed away; by something that was not her uncle.
\t“Why aren't you guys over here with us? In fact why are you guys not sleeping in the wagon with us?” She asked, Annie was still trying to put pieces together. Something was wrong here that was what it was trying to get her to notice, it had to be. Why would the twins sleeping with her uncle be so damned important?
\t“Because it would be inappropriate.” Arie told her in turn. She tried to hide it but she was very sadden by that statement. Not often Annie got to see those ears of theirs drop unless they had gone limp.
\t“Besides we told Anthony we'd respect his choice.” Sally told her after. She had rubbed her eyes after she had woken up but still seemed on a razors edge of passing out once more. She did seem to have some grief to her tone, more so then just the fact she was passing out.
\tAs both twins then chimed together. “And he choose you; there is nothing we can do.”
\tNow that was the part that made Annie's brow lift; that wasn't like him. He couldn't tell anyone no usually; more so friends and people close to him. That was one of his worst habits, the girl critized him even in her head. It wasn't hard to tell the lambs were in a bad way; but he put them out without so much of a second thought. So Annie dared something she hadn't tried yet. Her menu's gave her a choice to pry for information, the twins had to be hiding something. Part of that fancy new title 'Truth Seer' she assumed it had to be something like that damned eye; she had to figure out how to use it. She gave it a try and found herself surprised when two pairs of dice rolled against her one. The lambs die however landed only a single point higher then her own. Despite their advantage; seemed they were drained indeed. But before the lambs could figure out what it was she was doing. Another much heavier wave crashed down on her and wiped out what creation was yet again. But this time it was violent and very heavy; she felt like someone hand physically picked her up and threw her at the nearest wall hard as he fucking could.
Author note~
~This point is the end of font changes~
\tThis time Things felt strange; but at least the had started to settle down in a way Annie recognized. The same disembodied sensation crept around Annie. She was somehow still able to hold herself this time; how, only god knew. It felt strange. She doesn't like it. How could she describe it? Like she was being held in a wet cloth sack; but that sack is your body. Somehow suffocating yet unimpending all the same. She found it to hard to move but was aware there was some manor of space to be traversed, like she was in a room she simply couldn't open her eyes too. She seemed to be able to tell there was a young boy still somewhere near her but he seemed to be trying to hide; obscuring his very exsistance. From what she was unsure until IT's glaring eye looked her way and her mind crashed unto the floor. Seems this time she had gotten caught up in something from outside of their own story; how nice to not be the cause of disaster this time. A heavy breathing was heard as something truly massive was glaring into this pocket space. But being unable to find anything beyond a disembodied soul. The entity choose to leave to invade another pocket space to see if anything was hiding in it. However what she felt next was like she was suddenly in the middle of a tug of war. The hooded boy from before had a hold of one of her hands; the other was taken by a presence she wished she didn't recognize. It was Francis one of her uncles broken pieces. Tugged back and forth back and forth. The two of them had no intention of letting go it seems. She knew she didn't want to go with that monster but seemed the boy was losing his grip; how she knew this again god only knew. But she had a sudden idea run through her mind; her eyes catching flash of a certain black hood. She reached out and claimed this chance. Then a snap of his little fingers gave her mouth; which she promptly used to tell him.
“SHOW ME THE BATTLE OF BLOODMOUTH PASS!”
\tOh sure her sudden outburst gave a bit more shape to the scene before them. A boy in a white hood holding her right hand; and Francis's clawed hand clasping her left forearm from a distortion. However the vicious look in his eyes in that moment made the girl recoil. But promptly the boy nodded snapped his own fingers. The girl then finding herself falling. For moments she found herself washed within the very well of creation. Looking around in wonderment as she was curried on currents of energy; vast oceans of power that swirled around themselves. Caught glimpse of something that dropped her jaw. A planet sized eye creature seemed to be tending to The Well. Seemed to be having no small amount of work to fix well what Anthony broke. Glanced her way; where she would have swore it smirked at her, well if it could do so. One of his tentacles promptly swung her way and rather then the strike she covered herself against; found herself pushed along the currents. Right where she wanted to be.
“Don't blame me,
if you don't like,
what you see.”
She heard Otiv tell her.
Then had her eyes forcefully closed on her.
\tWhen Annie opened her eyes again. She found herself in a tent. She was there … well sorta maybe like a ghost. She could see right through her own hands and seemed able to faze right through solid objects; as swiping her hand through the tent poll that held the thing up would attest. That was before a whimper caught her ears and attracted her gaze. To the young pup from what felt like a life time ago. The Anthony she found in the bed had to be at least a year or two younger then she was currently. He was asleep peacefully at least until a fist hit a wooden poll outside and made the pup jump. “Time to vake mein pupil.” She heard a man speak from outside. He had such a deep voice; but it was so soft at the same time. “A long day is ahead of us.” She looked up as what entered the room was a wolf; whose fur was an almost abnormal shade of black. His accent was very foreign to her, she could scarcely tell where he was from. She tried to speak only to find she was unable to do so.
'So this is Uncle A's Master. The one and only Black Knight.'
\t“I'm up I'm up.” Her groggy little uncle lied as he breathed. Even if he had sat up his head was already sliding its way back down against the tent wall.
\t“NINE!” The older wolf snapped before reaching over and chopping the pups head. “You vant to run laps round the mountain again?” He chastised which promptly snapped the boy right back up.
\t“Awake for real this time Sir!” Anthony then told him promptly chopping himself in the face; and promptly sent himself back to the floor. This time holding his face and groaning in pain. He managed to get nearly the same face palm from his Master as he got from the ghostly Annie watching on. Though to be fair;
'Who falls asleep wearing plate gauntlets anyway … or forgets he's wearing them and hits himself in the face with them?'
\t“Mein gott.” The wolf bemoaned with a very heavy judgment filled eye roll. Watching the pup now rolling on the floor. “Yes vorld; this is mein star pupil. Mein best student. Get up boy you are embarrassing me!” The wolf told him as he glanced around. Though Annie's next thought as the pitiful sight of her uncle, rolled around in front of her.
'Oh god; yes this was the boy …
That I fell in love with.
Ooh I was such a puppy.
Why am I suddenly feeling shame?'
\tShe groaned silently to herself; well until the older wolf made her jump and a chill run down her spine. She could have sworn that he had just looked right at her.
'he didn't see me … did he?'
\tAll the same Anthony quickly got up. And All she could do was watch. Their day played out she discovered. As seconds after the older wolf offered Anthony food. The hungry pup took it and started scarfing it down, well until his Master raised his hand, cleared his throat; and a visible chill ran the boys spine tip to tail. “You sharpened you're blades yes?” The wolf asked as he sat down with a cup of strong straight black coffee.
\t“Yeah last night Master.” The boy replied with a sausage in his mouth. Promptly passing one of said swords to him. It wasn't his usual sword though in fact it was almost pitiful.
'Compared to the monster he swings around with ease now, its almost pathetic. Though seems even Uncle A had to start somewhere.'
\tThe wolf looked over his students blades; gave a huff and a nod and passed them back to his student. “Good Very good. You have grown vell lad; you've gone far with maintaining your veapon. Many from my own vorld did not appreciate the art; or understand its necessity of maintaining vnes own veapon.” The pup was pleased with his Master's praise; more so. His eyes then sparkled with glee when his Master produced the blade she had come to know. “In fact if you vant; you can sharpen Duskfall too.” The wolf stated then setting the massive sword down.
\t“Seriously!?” Anthony asked. Though this part did chafe her hide a bit; even if Annie felt a bit sheepish to admit. “You'd trust me with sharpening Duskfall? Hell you don't even tell people that sword's name.”
'I remember when I was the only one who could get that reaction out of him.'
\t“Yes I vould, and I vouldn’t trust just anyone one to do so either.” The wolf told him before taking another drink of his coffee which made Annie's nose wrinkle.
'Gah what even is that? It can't be edible when it smells like that foul.'
What I didn't know was
that I'd be dragged along for the rest of their day.
First that these manics after eating what frankly I would barely call breakfast. Start their day with an almost non stop five mile sprint. Not even a jog its a full out sprint. Thank god this ghostly body of mine seems to fly. Though Anthony kept up rather well with his master.
Second; His master was hard on him; dare say cruel.
Anthony was struck for not responding fast enough.
Beat for looking the man in the eyes, when he was yelling at him no less.
Given task that seemed impossible; that almost every time lead my uncle to besting the mans task, much to his chagrin.
His master almost seemed pointless at times but yet his every move had meaning. No wasted breath no loss of focus or words.
He was very scary at times; but yet he was protective. He was a guardian. Even if it was just a conversation with some noble; guy was a prick any way. And started baiting Anthony to start a fight.
His master would save him, and help him.
Is this how you have to be to train boys?
Are they really that dense?
Oh god is Uncle A gonna do this to me?
\tThe momentary relapse allowed the scene to go forward; the girl having been … well holding time, no small feat. However what made her not pull it back was what she saw happen before her eyes now. The so called prick was the asshat in-charge of the men garrisoning the fort at the pass. Seems that Anthony knew the man had begged like a bitch behind closed doors to get a rear position. And now even as she watched the man a top his horse; much to the shock of her Uncle. Order for his men to leave; to completely abandon the field. So his boast where; that as far as he cared, the only thing the loss of Challensburg would be. Was the crippling of a nuisance liberation kingdom anyway. Seems his Family and household both made their fortunes in the depths of slavery; Anthony couldn't even believe such a man was given such a critical post to hold with his own troops no less. This was a set up. That even as Anthony swore every curse in every tongue he knew at the man. He was soon left alone, with the howling of the biting wind; and the flapping of flags for an Alliance that now meant nothing.
\tIn an at best Mott Keep; now alone. The girl's jaw dropping once Anthony finally decided to go up to the wall; let her see what he would be facing. Looked like an army right out of a pit. Demons and Deamons of many types, shapes, and sizes. Monsters that flew yet shrieked like a banshee. And at least one monster so huge. The girl could see him lounging at the base of the mountain; enjoying the fruits of his pillage. As he had his way with a multitude of women and children. A sickening sight; though the fact Annie could even see from the distance what the fiend was doing. Would have in itself dropped a jaw or two had anyone been able to see her using such power. However what pulled her back was Anthony giving a deep sigh. The girl looking over to catch the boy looking back. She too looked and found her jaw falling only in wonderment. The night sky over the mountain was lit by sky lamps; from the city below. In hopes of inspiring the men that they thought where still holding that fort; but had quietly quit the entire war and surrendered a major city to a horde of demons. To settle a petty feud, between two ideologically different nations. Seemed she knew because he knew, they lit a balloon lamp for each soul those people where fighting for. And at that point she could easily see the city even through the wind and the scattered snowfall. The sky so littered with sky lamps they lit the city and cut through the night and snow both. Then her heart sank. “Well no point staying here; can't hold this piece of shit fort by myself.” She had hoped she had not changed something, but what filled her eyes with horror was when the boy a sword in each hand then jumped from off the fort walls; leaving the doors barred behind him.
'YOU DUMBASS NOW YOU CAN'T RUN!'
\tThe wolf gave one look back before he marched on; Nothing but the bag on his back. The armor on his body and the two swords in his hands.
'What are you doing, go back!'
'This isn't a 'Let me solo her' moment.'
'You can't beat that alone!'
\tHe of course had been spotted, but that entirely was the point. And now the monsters and their herds of mortal cultist now advanced on his position. For a moment first he startled her he stopped and first dropped both of his blades into the snow at his feet. Then into his left breast pocket, he fished out a little locket of all things. In which in fact made the pup cover her mouth as her eyes grew misty. Inside was a picture her mother had taken of the two of them. After having gotten the pup to give him a little kiss on the cheek. He remembered that moment and the bits after when she fumed at her mother for having taken such an embarrassing picture with her magic stone; ooh puppy Ann threw a fit. But the fact he kept it on himself as a keepsake made her try to hug him only to fall into the snow behind him; really she should have known better. But then he hung that locket and chain on his neck maybe for good luck. “Don't you worry Ann;” The boy had started making the pup behind him jump a little. Looking back as the boy picked up his swords, that had now suddenly run an almost icy blue. “I intend to make it back to you. I will come back alive, I swear it too you. So maybe just this once could you lend Uncle A some of your luck? Think I might need it for this stunt.” The first things what would reach him would certainly be the things that could fly; even if they couldn't go to high in fear of the frost wyvern's that roosted at the peaks. So Naturally he started getting ready.
\t“Fortress Of Ebon Steel!” Was Anthony's first call which made his fur run pitch black and look like said metal. “Limiter release Greater!” Made an orange glow grow over him. “Sky Walk. Fly. Greater Strength Massive! Ability Boost. Greater Ability Boost.” He kept going as the pup watched Aura after aura wrap around him. The monster maybe minutes away. “Greater Evasion; Luck of the Bastard. False Flag; mega mana land mine.” He called which the girl could now sense the hidden magic land mines now littered around in pass as now he marched on.
'That's why he left the fortress.'
that's putting it generously
\t“Sixth Sense : Mythic.” Anthony then chanted; his eyes grew a milky white. As seemed he had yet more to heap on. “Lions Heart. Oath Of Valor. Titan's Grip.” Yet more magic the boy was heaping upon himself. “Earth Mothers Gift; Heroes Health. Day Dreams; Tales from The Twilight Glade.” Which then employed potent druidic magics that made a thick and deep torn bramble the fiends would have to pass through. Though the girl sensed it was more then that; Or someone was helping her. Just entering the space on the ground or not would carve even steel to ribbons; The air was just as deadly as the ground. But still he was not done even as he continued to march on. “Delay Magic Cure Critical Wounds; times five. Delay magic Cry of the Banshee; times three. Delay magic Megaton impact; add infinum.” By now however so much magic was wrapped around the pup the aura had gone visible; Someone had read through his master's grimoire. So much power and energy swirling around him; it created an updraft that moved his fur as if he was standing in a stiff breeze. She watched him look up toward the first monster that would reach him; a winged monster that at least half looked female. She watched first he pointed his blade; then felt the mana swirl around it. Readied himself as suddenly both swords had this swirling energy around them. “Knight's Vow; Skyward slash!” He roared this time as he gave a blade a swing and it cast a blue energy blade that flew toward the harpy like monsters. Slicing them into chunks of meat that soon after splattered to the ground around him. Followed by the huff of effort as the battle began and Anthony's first sword swing took off a monsters head. But then he was in it for the long haul now; the girl knowing how long he had to struggle. This was going to be some long battle; but she asked for it.
\tShe could only watch as a shadow on the wall as this tide of evil tried to wash her uncle away. The pup however dug in his heels and readied for the worst; believe it or not, little jerk held. Monster after monster; mad man after mad man. Soon saw Anthony using their blood to paint a terrifying picture in the snow around him. Now she knew what he recalled this place as … Bloodbath Pass; the event he fears made him a monster. The swing of steel matched only by the roars of the demons and the huff of the pups own efforts. But as Ann nothing more then a ghost on the wall; could only watch. As this battle which can't be done justice with just words on a page alone. Still she watched as he fought on and on. As minutes became hours. Hours days Days. Days slowly became weeks. As weeks became an unforgiving month. Of nonstop Anthony vs the demonic hoard and their cultist. Ann hated that she got so desensitized to death so quickly; but god how much worse must it have been on him to have to spill mortal not demon blood on mass. So much so that even as she watched her young uncle struggle for his life; and show her what it truly means to be a knight. The balloons lighting the sky over the city and mountain fell long before he did. What made the girl furious though; not fucking once. Did the city ever fucking send a single fucking person to check on the fort. Parts of her pined to see that city burn; but that was the entire reason why he was fighting so damned hard.
\tA loud slam and the death cry of a large demon woke Annie up. The pup jumping from where her head rested on her knees. 'How did I fall asleep like this?' She asked as she got up and rubbed her eyes. 'Have you gotten any sleep yet?' She asked with a little whimper looking to Anthony who for now had slain the last demons from this wave. Now was the time he should have been resting. However, 'Nope still fighting shadows. God how far gone are you already?' She couldn't have sounded more depressed as she said that; tears rolling down her face. Anthony from her pov was fighting nothing but thin air. However he had now been awake for three weeks straight. He had gone right past thinking he was seeing and hearing things. Now his sleep deprived mind and exhaustion racked body was convinced he was still being attacked by monsters; Now the poor pup was beset seemingly on two fronts. But was now only fighting thin air. Ann gave a depressed little whine lowing her head back onto her knees. He did warn her she would not like what she saw. She was right; she hated herself now for requesting this moment in time. Watching the boy she loved, as he ranted and raved to himself in a depraved kind of way. His sleep deprivation so bad that now the world around him had stopped being real; he could no longer tell the difference from reality and fantasy. 'And now the time that you need to be resting; you are now fighting your own head.' She gave a whine.
But all she could do was watch
\tThankfully though the real mercy was when the battle finally ended. However she shook her head. “No wait, what about the angel don't gloss past that part!” Annie shouted at the well narrator I guess. Wait she can see the narration? “That's the entire point. He wants to know what happened; This was the only way I could help him! You have to show me when he woke as a demon lord.” I was trying to spare you that part. “Well don't How else could he find out what happened to him at this moment in time? He was the only one here. And now I'm the only one who has seen the battle of BloodBath Pass first hand. This has got to be the only way to find out more about that angel; do it!”
If I must.
Ahem.
\tSo before her she found herself in the throws of the event before. He was fighting … three of the slug lords. Though despite being literally on the verge of death; his brain was only even still holding on. Entirely due to the over reaching hold of the Twilight Eye; which made the lump of flesh work like it or not. But even now it was barely enough to get the neurons to fire properly. He was already loosing memories as his brain well malfunctioned and misfired. He had gotten to the point he was trying to doge strikes that were simply not there. Still as one tried to gore him with one of those deadly Pitch forks of theirs. He hacked one's head off; and even managed to lodge and tragically snap his last blade off in another creatures head. It too fell dead however now he was unarmed. However as Annie turned to look for the pup. What she found sank her heart; hurt her feelings in new and exciting ways. And tragically gave her a very real very personal first hand lesson of Death. For even if the boy was somehow standing; the body so strung together with magic. Anthony however he was indeed gone. Brain death is still death. The lights where on but no one would ever be home again. Drool running down his jaw, eyes flopped to the sides; head kinda leaned back. But what filled her with surprisingly enough, rage. Was when the last Slug lord a putrid looking yellow worm. Grabbed for the boys head. She wished she had a blade, she prayed to be able to stop it. But that was when a Star Light suddenly shone From the boys chest. And everything even the demon stood still. As a gray-scale had covered the world. But what happened next; well even the so called Narrator was surprised. As in strode in; wearing a Long Gray cloak. Neck length Brown hair; an almost hipster little goatee. And some bright blue eyes was non other then the fabled Storyteller; this must have been his last act.
\t“Oh dear what do we have here?” The man asked as his hand reached under his hood and stroked his chin. “How … how did I mess this event up so badly? He was supposed to win.” Even if now he waved his hand in front of the boys face; got nothing in any way of a response. Then looked to the star the shone from his chest. “Damn it a Star Child too; of all the Damned able luck. I'll never get all Fifthy Two going at the same time at this rate. Alas I have no choice … but to use his star. And use his second chance. There is nothing I can send to offer him aid.” But then he shocked the girl. As he looked up to Annie and gave the girls head a rub; interacted with the ghost on the wall. “Don't you worry, we all know where it went at least. Hello my child … uh >.> sorry about …. uh yeah.” He gave a nervous chuckle and rubbed the back of his head. “Good for the story … scarring for my characters, I am so sorry.” He gave his head a little bow at her; before he went back too it. And he criticizes my breaking of the forth wall; jerk.
\tThough he went back to the boy. Held out his right hand. And then a halo did shine over the boys head. And a wide smile grew across the Storytellers face. “Well … I'll be damned, seems we have a volunteer. I … I didn't ask anyone to help him yet; there is no one i can call on. Who the hell is watching one of my main characters?” He asked with an almost accusatory tone. But then a short girl and by short she was tiny; Jenny was even a little bigger then her. Wearing a long white cloak, Materialized as she stepped toward them. Then promptly gave the man a bow even if a smirk did crease her face. She had long twin tailed bight blond hair. Pretty much all you could see aside the jade green eyes. The Storyteller however almost grew in disbelief at what he was seeing. A groan came from him as he rubbed the side of his head. “Of course it was you; Damn it Jenny. Try something different with a character and she becomes self aware. Why did I want a Deadpool?”
\t“Well, half right.” The girl told him as she looked at him, once she stood back upright; Not that it made her any taller. “Jenny the Angel Gnome.” The girl teased with a salute. “Ready to go back to being me; come on you're the guy doing this you got to be able to fix me. This angel girl is far too pure to be stuck on my shoulder don't you think.”
\t“How did a little minx like you end up fused with an angel soo … what the hell, seamlessly?? Who the hell did this to you?” The man asked as the boy for a moment a forgotten memory.
\t“Here's your hint. He's really good at Looking at things.” Jenny told him with an upward grin; a groan once more coming from the Teller.
\tOnce a facepalm slacked his face. “Sin is involved too? God damn it; I just wanted to tell a cool story. Why must you guys meddle?”
\t“Hey you made us; Daddy.” Jenny teased him trying to play cute and coy at the same time. “You ain't got no one but yourself to blame.”
\t“Ow, ok you know what maybe I do want the angel instead.” The Teller told her with a finger jabbed her way.
\t“Not gonna happen bud and we both know why; you wuv me too much. I was one of your first in detail creations after all.” Jenny teased pretending she was holding and snuggling someone. “Soo attached to someone who before now only existed in your head. And uh well and a few games of dungeons and dragons I guess.” She did cup her own chin at that.
\tBut then Annie had had enough. “HEY!” She shouted marching over to them. “What about him? I want my Uncle back!”
\t“She's right.” The Teller told the currently half angel half gnome. “Time may be stopped right now; but this is not the time for this. Will you at least help the boy?”
\t“That's why I'm here; I mean hell.” Jenny gave a pause as she looked up at the pup; a smile on her face. “I mean I have to return the favor; he already saved me once.”
\tAnnie had to ask now; if this small fry was the angel involved with her uncle; she had to ask. “How did you meet my uncle? He doesn't remember a damn thing from then; you have to tell me!”
\tWell that got the mismatched gnome to look up at the pup standing over her halo. “Someone saved me from a place; too horrid to describe. When I woke I found myself falling. Tragically I saw a pit I was falling into feared I would be the second Jenny to tragically go splat literal chapter one of her involvement. But at the last second; a wolf pup grabbed my hand. I mean I nearly dragged him into that pit with me; and … it may have forced him to look into the pit.”
\t“What happened after he grabbed your hand?” Annie asked she had to know; this was the only way to get a lost part of her uncles past back for him. “What did you do too him?”
\t
\t“Got him infected by a pit ooz and a twisted Shadow.” The gnome confessed; head for once sunk in shame. “Then he pulled me out of the pit; fell backwards and smashed his head onto a rock. However the moment I was safe I was pulled elsewhere by the system; I was not even meant to interact with this story after all. I was forced to leave him behind. I wanted to help him; I had too. I might be a greedy little shit but I still have my pride and some honor left. But I never got the chance until now. I wish I could have held out for a few minutes at least; god only knows how badly that blow to the head scrambled his brain around. Now I know it was worse then I feared. I doomed him.” Jenny admitted, shame returning to her visage. Ears sinking eyes darting away. “I left a scattered mind and scrambled brain unguarded for a Twisted Shadow. I may as well have fed the boy to it.”
\tSo the Storyteller gave a nod; produced a large book. Then seemed to make the needed changes. Ann watching the scene before her with the man and the gnome gone; once more returned to the pup now dead on his feet on the battlefield. Annie looked around to see what if anything had changed as the slug reached for his head. However the turn that happened was the halo that suddenly shone in over the boys head. Annie then heard a voice cry out as time once more stood still.
Ahhh there it is; deals done kid
This is the memory you wanted right?
What happened to him that day?
'Wait you got it?'
'please'
'Show me show me!'
you are right girl;
I was the only way
you were going to get
what happened
with this event
\tSo once more diverted, the scene from before not lost however; Annie turned away and suddenly felt strange.
She was in two places at once;
there is no simple way to explain it
outside of bluntly
\tOne side she could see was still her uncle with that halo. The new thing she could see however. Was a far younger Anthony. There was a very heavy storm that was happening. But Anthony well he heard someone beg for help; he heard her voice clear as day. The pup couldn't have been little older then Annie when she obsessed about her blanket. Running as fast as his legs could carry him. But at least now she knew why he was running. There was a brightly lit angel falling from the sky. She had a boy in her arm's and something was after them. The pup didn't even realize he noticed it but he did. All the same he ran and raced his eyes never leaving what he'd seen. The girl falling, that had begged him for help in his head. From what she knew of what happened after, and well what she remembered from when she was a baby. She wished she could just stop him here to hell with the falling angel. All the same seems Chance was on their side the pup made it in time. That is however the moment the pup stepped in the shit. And even Annie was able to see the unspeakably large skeletal arm racing after them. Still where Annie faltered the pup kept his eyes on the prize and actually raced forward. Making Annie look up; after all what truly, what where the odds. When that pup actually managed to make it to and snap up that angels hand; very last second. Hell the fact she was scarcely bigger then him helped; the two bodies however did not. The boy cried out almost falling in. But however as the boy was all but forced to gaze too deeply into a pit with a very dangerous monster. An even greater monster was barreling down on them. However what happened next left Annie speechless. The titanic skeletal arm trying to grab the angel was in fact grabbed. Several super massive tentacles came out of portals and seized the colossal arm; then pulled it painstakingly from their world.
'Ok, I know whose tentacles those are now.'
'So this is how Otiv got wrapped into our world;'
'he saved Uncle A from whatever that huge arm was.'
\tBut seemed after that the scene started to devolve; literally. The presence of two such massive power holders warped the very scene around them even as the pup watched her little uncle manage to slowly drag that angel up out of the pit. Even as she watches strange shadows attaching themselves to his own. As something that grabbed the tiny angel's foot slowly climbed its way up to Anthony. Annie yelping when suddenly part of the scene she was attached too seemed ripped away. Looking back in time to see what would one day become Sinner infest his pelt. As he managed to get the girl up out of the pit; boy in tow. Or so she thought as the scene became damaged further. To the point the boy in the memory became direly affected; was time for the tables to turn as once the angel was on flat land, the bit the pup had been on seemed like it had been erased. Sure her hand clasped his fast enough to prevent a trip to the bottom; but the darkness itself grabbed the boy and tried to pull him down. Once the white hooded boy was set down and the angel girl used both hands to secure the pup. “I got you.” the angel cried out trying her best to pull him back; as a tangible shadow tried to yank him down. Anthony now however was screaming as blood seemed to flow out of every hole on his head. Too much raw power was now at work here, and had become too toxic for mortal life; the only thing saving Ann was the fact this was a moment from the past. “Come on hold on; i'll get you out. Don't give up just yet kid.” The little angel told him as his hand started to reach the lip of this pit at least. However the scene before her took another hit then as the literal fabrics tore around them; as the world fell to literal pieces and much to Annie's horror so too did her uncle. The boy looked like he was glitching and phasing; parts of his fur seemingly changing color; parts of the boy completely randomizing; even for a few moments the wolf pup became a kitten. Before going back as the angel started to succeed in extracting him from the pit. A blood curdling scream emitted from his throat as the angel struggled to get him back up. “Hold on it, Don't you let go. You saved me I have to save you! I still believe in you; don't give up!” She roared once finally the shadows lost their grip as the angel risked loosing more power into an unstable scene. A bright divine light shining from her and giving her the few seconds she needed to all but yeet the pup from the pit. However the proof of why he didn't remember what happened after that. As once Anthony was in the air; the fabrics of reality around them. Tore and were completely ripped asunder. Everything about what happened ripped from creation once far to much power was used too fast on a single point in the sands of time.
'And that's why uncle A doesn't remember it huh.'
'that stunt she pulled made the bad situation worse.'
three different power holders
all intervened
in the same scene,
In the same moment
within the sands of time.
'Uh yeah and the world couldn't handle it.'
So it seems
\tA few moments after of the girl floating in nothingness soon saw something materialize. First a deep red light; then the opening of a truly massive eye.
I don't … remember this part
\tIt glanced around for a few moments a few times. Seemingly gathering wisp of energy leftovers from the world’s collaps. Collected it into a ball then started shaping it. Annie and her handy helper watching on as this creature worked and then much to the shock of her helper it seems. Choose to restore the world to back before it was sundered.
Sin
himself
…Willingly
choose to save
a mortal life?
'That a good or a bad thing?'
I
genuinely
don't know
\tSeems though fast as he came was as quick as he left. The world reformed around them. Anthony was placed on the ground near the pit. Then moments later. Annie turned to see the Twilight Butterfly step through a blue portal. “She is here Master.”
And here's the part where I get involved.
Midnight is always such a good girl.
\t“No Master; seems we are too late.” The fairy quipped in this one sided conversation. “Yes The boy in the White hood is gone; she is sorry she got here too slow. In fact all outsiders had been expunged; she can't even retrieve the gnome. It's like the entire world has just been hard reset by The Maker himself; no other force could command such power, not even you Master.” She nodded and listened. “Are you sure Master? The Twilight Eye is an extension of your very power; are you sure you wish to loan it to a bug?” She had a pretty point tone to the way she spat bug. She stopped again the fairy looking over the pup on the ground. But Anthony was starting to push himself up. Blood slowly starting to drip from his mouth. Parts and patches of his fur darkening. “Master; the boy has been infected. Her guess is by a kin to the Darkens from world six nineteen; she fears it may even be related to dear Lilith. It seems new formed however its more a primal urge at the moment then a tangible entity yet.” She gives a few nods. The battered boy before her fell back into the dirt even as more of him slowly turned and her uncle was lost to a monster slowly painfully. “If you are sure; then she will obey and save the little bug. A twenty seven point barrier outta to be strong enough to confine the creature. The Eye will give his mind excessive levels of which it may survive. With that much even the mortal would survive the creature even should it escape my barrier.” The fairy approached him as one of the boy's eye was his normal blue color; the other had gone a sickly looking yellow from iris to pupil. “She'll have you know tis is a great honor you get child.” The fairy told him as she promptly grabbed his throat. Before her a tiny but truly massive font of power shone before her. The pup struggling to both keep himself him and push himself up. “But the Twilight eye will stop this monster from consuming your mind, and it will save your life one day; so really you should be grateful.” She watched as she forced this power into his core. Where the pup instantly writhed in agony. The Fairy constructing a magical ball upon which she started striking dot dents into it. His flesh actually moving under his fur as power coursed through his veins. However it soon mixed with all that was going on in his body now; and soon a foul toxic purple gas seeped from his mouth. “Oooh no, It is as you feared Master,” The fairy quipped. “power from the eye is fusing with what is in his system; and She knows what this gas is. It's the Breath of UllenDreth; virulently toxic to mortal life. A good thing it's barely a drop, a good thing the pups lungs are so small. Still.” She paused to look over to the boy's village. “Truly is a shame it'll wipe this village off the face of the maps.” She paused for a moment as her master asked her something. “Yes Master she's already talked to all souls down their. They all agreed to this plot-line; so long as it makes the boy a true hero. She feels terrible deceiving them but one day maybe he will be a hero. For now though;” She paused looking down at the pup with green runes now etched around his left eye; then soon hidden in his flesh. And beyond that the literal shattered nature of the boy's mind. “He is broken. She has never seen a consciousness break so completely that it even warped the mind. Dare say he may even need angelic healing; should we deploy Gabriel?” She gave a nod, “as you wish.” Then opened another portal. After strangely enough she soothed the boy's mind by giving him a kiss on the forehead that sent him to sleep. She then walked into her portal and vanished as fast as it did. But that was also the end of the scene all the girl's focus returned to the Battle of Blood Mouth pass.
'Just what I wanted'
'…'
'Still please don't … uh'
'Split my mind again.'
I merely did as you asked
mayhap it is the girl
who should mind
Just to Who,
and What
she asks for?
\tShe was returned to the battle of Blood Bath Pass. The girl now armed with lost information of her own, but where she was hoping to see more. Well frankly she and her borrowed narrator found themselves surprised when a lone growl echoed out across all of apparent creation. “Welp seems we're out of time. The boy's waking now. Even I dare not fight a demon of his level within his own domain.” So for once she felt a pull that felt above all others; and was sharply then pulled away. It was hard to describe next, what she felt might closet be described as falling. And it felt like she fell forever. Through water, air, sound, she wasn't sure it would ever end.
\tThat was until someone grabbed her hand. A hand that at first filled her with hope; but then instantly filled her with dread. Didn't even get to feel the dread though as the girl realized that for those few moments. She saw most likely what he wished no one ever did; his truest deepest secret. The inner workings behind his head; how truly broken he was. And the seemingly endless list lives had since lived, over and over and over and over and over again. Sure that alone made her run pale. But the hand of the man that yanked her out of something so dreadful and promptly dumped her into a yard; Filled her with terror in of itself.
\t“Even after I told that fucker the Trophy must be protected.” Declared the wolf who promptly not so gently tossed her into his yard. “Get the hell out of shit you have no right too girl! This ain't Oz never said you could see back their Dorth!” She rolled over after her unpleasant yet welcomed landing. At least she was on solid ground again and not a ghost of some kind. But the face she saw when she looked back; technically it was her uncles face. However the name that was tagged too him in her field of view was Francis.
\t“FRANCIS!” Annie did promptly shout in fright. She backed away but noticed he wasn't even looking at her now; he had since even walked away from her. She was visibly shaking she didn't even know what this figment even was. But she managed a gulp to settle her nerves once he sat down on a stump some ways away from her. “What has happened? Where am I? What is this place?”
\t“Fucked around, found out; thinks she is owed any answers.” Francis resisted the urge to spit at her, rather keeping his tone surprisingly sane and as close to her uncle as she had heard him be. “Entitled much? Just a female thing or just a you thing?” He asked her once one of his eyebrows raised at her. “Welcome to the closest thing you could call my home. My little piece of this broken mother fucker you call uncle.”
\tWell at least she managed to get back to her feet. She looked around the wind felt real, the dirt under her paw pads felt so too. The sun was warm the breeze was cool. This frankly since whatever happened happened. This was the first world she had been in that felt right; like home. “You … you mean I'm in his head?” Francis gave a prompt nod. “That bastard; he used me to root around in my uncles head!” She suddenly shouted when realization punted her in the gut and she suddenly felt sick. Dropping to her knees for a moment as she clutched her head. How long was Otiv able to dig; how deep did he go? What kind of damage had she just done to her own loved one? What snapped her out of it was when Francis busted out laughing. In fact for once it was almost a heart warming laugh; not the insane borderline psychopathic way it started. The part that made her flinch she was starting to recognize that tone of voice.
\t“Almost forgot what it feels like to have someone care.” The wolf told her as he slapped his knee. The girls eyes widening, no … nonono it it wasn't fair she though. “Don't really care if you forgive the laughing; couldn't help it really.” No no she told herself again; even as her pulse started to raise, and that certain butterfly in her heart found reason to wake. His voice now, it was now one in the same. The outright monster before her, based solely off her own senses; could have been no one else but her dear Uncle A. When he saw her eyes start to fill with tears he recoiled a little suddenly unsure himself. “Why are you crying?”
\t'If I'm in his head right now.' Her thoughts barely didn't scream at her. Barely kept a whisper. 'And this was the only piece to try and save me, not once but maybe even twice now.'
~Notice~
~Confirmation of activation the of Unique Skill : Truth Seer?~
'Do it.'
\tSo right before her eyes she was exposed to the shatter. The fractured and fragmented epicenter that was the being; Uncle A himself had named Francis. It was like he was the center of a broken pane of glass. And bore witness to the many many many lives; of the Tragic Hero code named Lone Wolf. The many lives that slowly tore away at rationality. The many deaths that chipped away at his self esteem. All the failures that haunted his ego. And frankly all the scars that never seemed to heal on his heart. But no soon it became more then that; it was more then just a broken man hiding behind a fake smile. She then was more like compelled to look around the world she found herself in. The world around them was so empty and cold feeling it as she said before; everything around her felt like a lie. There was a shabby hut, no fence, no other buildings. Then she noticed no stable, no hen house, no horse, no chickens. Then once she looked back and felt that compulsion push her, “Where did your chickens go?”
\tSo Francis responded with a glance away, he didn't want to look her in the eyes as he told her, “They didn't make it; I couldn't save them in time.”
\tSure the way the dark clouds rolled in kind of unnerved her. But it didn't seem to stop her from asking. “And Stalyth, where's your horse?”
\tThat question seemed to hurt, his head dropped before Francis answered her with. “He, didn't make it. I failed to save him.” That was when Truth seer let her see the sorrow and grief he was now trying to both hide and hold. It for lack of a better term, was almost like depression had become a tangible thing.
\t“Hue?” Now Annie was compelled to ask. Even if her tone of voice quivered under her own question.
\tAnd that was when the clouds overhead thundered. Francis refused to answer for a moment, so Annie promptly asked him again, where was Hue? To which finally the wolf broke a little and almost sobbed out. “He didn't make it … I … I wasn't quick enough.” The no longer then twelve minutes before certifiably insane wolf before her; then clutched his head. As his grief slowly claimed him, and that same shadow from her past wore him like a food source.
\tSeeing him like this hurt her; but still she failed to resist the compulsion to promptly ask. “The twins?”
\tBut that was the question that brought the rains down. The wolf before her now digging his claws into the back of his head, now between his knees. The droplets below him certainly not rain. “I messed up; They didn't make it. What have I done!?!” That one hit her hard in the gut; frankly she had since come to realize how badly he actually needed the friendship of those twins. It never was about the sex; is was his desire to protect them from his past. Now it was finally starting to make sense what it was trying to show her.
\tBut the next question she found herself forced to ask, even left a sour taste in her mouth. “Where's Jenny?” But at that he went silent; and this time refused to speak. This time it was no outside force that made her yell. “WHERE IS MY SISTER!” Tears now flowing down her face.
\t“She … didn't ...” He physically couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence, he spoke the first two words alone like he was about to be ill. It was still enough to drop her to her knees, then mindlessly fell to her hands. She had gone numb, but what brought her back from the very brink. Was when the man she thought insane not even an hour ago; finally broke. “Its all my fault. I … I made the wrong choice.” He finally sobbed out. Annie looked up at him. “It ate open your side. I obsessed over losing you. So I treated you first; but it was too much though and I blacked out.” Now he was barely holding it in. And she was feeling a new compulsion but at least it was her own. “By the time I came too … she … it was too late she was already gone!” At that he finally just started crying. And this was the moment that Francis turned right back into Uncle A; once he finally started being honest about his emotions and feelings. Stopped wearing Francis like a lie, to protect himself. Everything despite the priest warnings; the boy was not only allowed to bottle. Given his chosen upbringing; it became mandatory. But what caught his next sob in the back of his throat. Was When Annie finally figured out what it was she needed to see. The Devastation of a soul that has been crying out for help; but never even learned how to cope. When his first attempt at life was far from fair; and he was forced to lose everyone, absolutely everyone but her. So she raced to him grabbed him and refused to let go.
\t“Its not your fault!” She yelled at him then holding him tight; and much like the first time she held him and refused to let go. A shaking hand soon held her back. “You said it yourself, evil things live in this world with us; it’s not your fault that something made your life hell. It’s all they fucking do!” And in moments the false reality around them faded, the cruel lie of his torment and failures. “I found you. You are not a monster! I want you to fucking mean it this time!” The 'world' around them faded like the bad cruel lie it really was. And found themselves in a swirling storm of out of control power; his shadow this so called demon lord exposed as the parasite it was. It wore him and his shadow; and feasted on his torment and emotions. Sure the wolf in her arms was once more whole and the man she knew and loved was safe. And the shadow no choice but to return to the 'safety' of its cage. Didn't help she didn't know where she was or how to get them out. The wind was harsh and the air was heavy. Until she looked up once more saw that great big eye; who smiled at them? Then played a golden card, the sky around him shifting suddenly. Suddenly, with an anomaly so brazenly tossed into his territory. A war cry filled her ears. A arm shot through the storm and swirling energy. And helped the girl refill her hope. Her uncle was no failure for if he was.
\tThen seconds after she thought those very words a strong arm jabbed back through the storm, a certain voice never would have yelled. “LET HIM GO!” Hue roared refusing to let the nightmare take his friend. He didn't care how it had gotten here; he was frankly grateful it had been. “I WON'T LET YOU TAKE HIM!” He ripped and tore, fought like he had gone to hell and back already. Even as the storm of the nightmare around them shredded his arms doing so. “GIVE ME BACK MY FRIEND!” Annie had a bright idea for a moment. She grabbed Anthony's arm and stuck it out. She saw that big eye nod before he vanished. Hue Grabbed Anthony's arm; then promptly ripped them both from the hellish nightmare. Sure the ground may have splattered with Hue's blood as they did.
\tWhen She once more found herself in another strange world; at least parts of her knew this was at least the correct universe at least. The first thing she heard was Hue's furious roar then the shattering of something that sounded like glass; even if his form for the girl was rather vague, simple side effects though. “ANTOHNY!” Hue rushed over, a little dumb struck when he also saw Annie. But he had to move fast. He dropped to Anthony's side threw open some manner of inventory window and started dumping items around them. Promptly ripped open Anthony's shirt open and jabbed a large thorn in his chest. “Don't you die on me dammit! I won't let you die!” He did promptly shove a bottle in the girls hands. “Drink that, non dream walkers are never meant to be here. The air is toxic to you, that potion will buy you time.” He kept at Anthony in the moments after oils, chanting, more thorns. Finally however well after some time, however he did not cry out if joy he swore in desperation. Seemed it was beyond even his mighty powers to heal him, so with no choice but to sallow his pride. The bull took a ceremonial knife from his inventory; Slit one of his wrist without hesitation. How convent they were here. Then called out as the mana seeped from his very blood. “Mother Moon!” His cry echoed out into this strange place, but did not go unheeded. Truly was the singular place he could have been taken to get the treatment he needed; now, who just doesn't love a loop hole.
\tLike a rocket from a strange measure of distance. In shot a pale blue and gray streak. The being that showed may have looked human, most assuredly was not. The girl by looks alone with long white hair. Little black star like spots speckled on her hair. She wore a sapphire blue robe, but despite her looking a color swapped shrine maiden. Her first call of, “Huey!” Then promptly tossing herself at him hard enough to swing herself around him; which she giggled and laughed as she did. But the bull was in no mood to play. Grabbed up the little goddess by the head and showed her Anthony. “OOOOooh ooooh That's not good.” She told him with a finger poking her chin. “Nope not good at all; let me guess you need a freebie?” She asked almost mocking him in a way.
\t
\t“What are you waiting for please help him!” Annie shouted, her emotional tone however did garner a worried glance from little mother moon. She was after all one of the mothers of mothers.
\t“Ooh you don't look to well off either. How many realities have you splattered through?” The little goddess Luna did promptly ask. But before she could do anything.
\t“Allow me young one.” A loud voice did thunder. Luna did for a stark change take a very serious posture, even to the point she suddenly wore armor and clutched a trident like spear. Looked like a shark armored loli routine though frankly looked more adorable then intimidating. “I believe I have the pieces he dropped along the way.” Annie recognized this voice, her previous little helper and partner in crime, turned out was not very little, like even in the slightest sense of the word. The little eye she and she alone could see on her shoulder; she and she alone could hear him in her head. They looked up and just huge red eye with purple flesh wrapping it as far as their eyes could see; in literally all directions. Luna seemed to realize who this being was, and as a change that startled even Hue; made the goddess hide behind the bull.
\t“No no its Sin, why is Sin here?” Luna asked as she hide behind the druid. “Don't piss him off even I'm no good in a fight versus him.”
\tIn the seconds after a small gathering of tentacles descended to them. And to the druid he was given a mask that soured the bulls face deeply and instantaneously. It was a black wolf shaped mask with blue eyes. Which he did not even say a word even after he snapped away that mask. As he grabbed the goddess by the shoulder and dragged her away back to Anthony; not even telling her a thing. To Annie she was promptly given a certain ball of goo who for once was happy to see her. And lept from the tentacles hoping she would catch him; which for once she was strangely eager to get the ooze back. He was somehow tied to her uncles sanity in some strange way. “Sinner!” Annie cried out then pulling the ooze to her chest.
\t“GIRL, never thought I'd miss you.” The Ooze of Sinner told the girl who for a change that even startled the ooze when the girl hugged him. “I fell out of the fucking world. I fucking glitched though the fabrics. Someone get the Storyteller on the phone I want to make a fucking complaint! What is this fucking buggy mess, we only broke reality a little bit!” The slime for a moment roared. But he quieted himself when the girl sniffed sharply and held him closer to her chest. Then the single most potent one eighty, when it realized she needed it. The Slime returned her hug and held her tight a moment. Once two make do slime hands extended round her and comforted her. “I know I know, it must have been very scary. You were very brave.”
\t
\tBut that was when the Titanic eye above them finally as softly as his massive voice could. “I have brought back his missing bits.” that voice, it could have been no one else but the mysterious Otiv echoed due to sheer size alone. “If that little bastard ever scatters the entire workshop against the floor again; I will not put him back together next time. And your world will be getting smashed into dust to be made into something far less troublesome.” It was but a few seconds later as Otiv told this to Annie. They Both watched Sinner glance away and around her body and Anthony sat up. As Hue and Mother Moon finished healing him. The little moon goddess with a rather smug thumbing of her nose; to have healed so deep a wound. “Well guess as the humans like to say; the cats out of the bag.” The eye did quip as Anthony at first looked up in disbelief. “Not that any of us had a choice in the matter. The only way for us to get this outcome; was to have all of us here in a place we could all be gathered.”
\tThen Anthony however gave a sigh. “So this is who my backer is; of all fucking beings, it had to be you.” The wolf growled for a moment and the girl and glob both bounded over to him. “The Primark Evil. The single most power signature on Dras'Kari's Writ of Invasion; the only real reason he even got in if you ask the right people. The Notorious End Watcher The Great Eye know as Sin. The mother fucker who threw me through time and made me live five hundred million lives!” But that floored the girl, and frankly overloaded her emotions. She had seem many of his lives; but she did not know how deep and true his own pit was. How … how long had he suffered?
\t“I go by Otiv now.” The Eye told them as he then did well roll over. “And for what it's worth, I really am sorry about that. I do hope this makes up at least.”
\t“Why?” Anthony asked, not sure he even really wanted to know.
\t“When one is reborn its it not right for him to take a new name?” Otiv fired back; then gave a light teasing chuckle. “Not what you meant I know.” The eye then righted his orientation over them; well as ants to mortals as they were in comparison within the realm of dreams. “Look believe it or not; I find myself seeking desiring redemption, true redemption.” As the eye paused the wolf with the girl now holding herself to his chest, almost afraid to let him go. He lift a finger a growl on his lips the eye tutted him, “Because I have in fact fucked around, I did in fact find out. I Won my stupid game and claimed my stupid praise. And then oooh how I suffered for it. Silence, silence is now the one thing I do truly fear.” The eye told the wolf far below him. Even the little goddess Luna still rather hiding behind Hue.
\tAnnie was sobbing and he was rubbing the back of her head and neck. “What do you want from me?” Though he did say that rather pointedly and rather coldly.
\tBut Otiv's response was a rather warm. “Absolutely nothing.” That made all of them look up. “Even as I remain the prime evil THE TITULAR BAD GUY; the only thing I want you silly mortal creatures to do. Is rather simply live, for as long as you will. And all this even here with you; is my attempt to restore the system that I in fact tore down with my very own tentacles.” The wolf glared up at the eye, then gave a sigh.
\t“Yeah, suppose none of us are perfect.” Anthony admitted then letting out a rather ragged sigh. After all looking down at the girl he now pressed his forehead to to try and console. After all most of the world assuredly would not approve of the one he genuinely cared for. Given the fact she is six years his junior and is completely blood related. So looking back up at the titanic eye above them. “You seriously don't want anything from me?”
\t“Is there an echo in here? I already told you what I need from you; I need you to stay alive, that is literally it. Good guy bad guy I seriously couldn't give less of a shit how you turned out. Be a tyrant for all I care. Or be a Saint your choice.” The great eye told them as he gazed down on them. “Buy it or not that is all I need or want you to do; is live.” The Eye told them as Otiv continued to gaze down on them. “Your very lives, every beat of your hearts; now I know why my power is so vast. Each and every one of your souls every beat of your little hearts; is the source of my power. I live entirely because you all little mortals bugs do; who doesn't love a loop hoop. Your imperfect lives doomed to die for the crime of being born imperfect. And everything that goes alone with it; that is in fact the sustenance of my own power. Why would I not want all the fucking little mortals that I can?”
\t
\tAnthony gave a rather ragged sigh, this was going against everything he thought to be true. Here he was only alive because the monster that ruined his life millions of times over; had a sudden fucking change of heart. He started to growl as his past bubbled up into the forefront of his mind. But even the rage of his inner demon lord was calmed when the girl in his arms looked up at him. Poor Annie, she looked so tired; so worn out. But seems she was in fact just as bad as himself; her fatigue could only have been from one source. Exposing herself to Otiv's Power as she dug and dug to figure out what why and where; then how to get out. “It don't need to make sense right?” Annie told her uncle as she now refused to let him go. “It's just like you said about the world; who gives a fuck about their opinions? This Thing here;”
\tTo which she was ever so shortly cut off by the eye quipping . “Very apt word.”
\t“Shut it eyeball.” The pup snapped. Then looked back up to her uncle. “He's helped us several times now. If something like him can change then maybe there is hope for the world. But for now all I want is to have you better and back to normal. To get out of this weird place and frankly go home. Tomorrow I don’t want to do a damn thing. I want to get humped, I want to get filled up a lot, I want to be fed, I want to be pampered; But I want you better first.”
\tThe larger wolf growled a moment as he once more glared up at the huge eye. But gave a sigh, “Suppose you're right; They do say don't bite the hand that saves you.” SO first he growled loudly for a moment before that growl finally morphed into a yell. He shouted his frustrations into the the Font of Dreams, but once he finished he let out a sigh; he did in truth feel a bit better already. “So how did we get to the Font of Dreams? Annie can't traverse planes of existence. And even I need a gate to do so.”
\t“There is an echo in here. Fine I'll say it again. This was the only place I could have taken us; where all the needed pieces to fix you, could be gathered.” Otiv started, the giant by all definitions eye still spoke as softly as he could as to not blow out their ear drums; even if it was still grating on the ears when he spoke. Seemed in this world his words where as physical as theirs; where normally it was clearly telepathic. This entire time he would have been to the point of whispering so softly under his breath; any but these under him would have heard; any louder and he would have easily killed them all. “The only place myself, and you little mortals; and even your little moon goddess. Could all be gathered in one point. It took this much and this much alone to put your demon lord back in place. Then restore your shattered consciousness.”
\t“So then how do we leave?” Anthony asked in turn.
\t“I would not have brought you here if I could not send you back.” Otiv told them. “But before we go or more apt to say I let you go. There is one more Thing we need to deal with.” And to that Otiv had a rather large tentacle reach down to Anthony. And promptly pushed something away from him. The sound of a boy then falling over on his ass and going ah as he fell. They Annie and Anthony both. And what they saw was the boy Annie had watched kill an elder dragon with only his voice. “I don't know how you managed to make a Game Master God; But I'm not dumb enough to trust the brat, even if he is a version of you. Be glad I'm not installing a shock collar.” To that Anthony's now human looking counter part pointed to himself still not saying a word. Wave his hands in front of himself in a 'me no way' fashion. “Don't try that shit with me brat; you've already used The Words of Creation, aggressively at that! That power is not meant to kill even if it can, yet you used it. You have lost my trust.” At that a rather sharp very huge and loud snap cried out. So Anthony's new piece this Game Master suddenly had a black and around his throat. And Anthony felt a sharp rise of his control over this strange piece of himself. “There now that a leash is in place; I will not obliterate you. I'm not fool enough to trust the words of a Game Master Thing. And certainly not idiotic enough to trust them. But nor am I now heartless enough; to take something away. That you worked so hard to make. He will be one fucking Hell of a Limit Breaker state for you; but if you want anymore from it. Then get strong enough to remove my magic yourself! But know if you do and he does anything like this again. Dust, all of you will be dust. I don't care the Teller would have to start a new story; I made him do it once already. I'll make him do it as many fucking times as I damn well please. Its his own fault for making me me.”
\tBut once that was done Anthony watched as this human like version of himself was pulled back to the world and fused once more by the Being beyond reason above them. But then they watched Otiv's much larger tentacles coil up from shadows on the ground. They coiled into a large circle and then made a purple portal for them. “Hue can return to the mortal world the way he normally does. This is how you two get home. The Little Moon Goddess will return to her post. To Watch for The Others am I right?” The little Moon goddess gave a nod. Though as Anthony obsessed over helping Annie cope and organize her feelings and emotions. Otiv promptly lightly chuckled, to which even the smug little moon joined in his laugh.
\t“He hasn't even noticed yet has he?” Luna asked as the moon goddess flew in the air as close to the eye as she dared.
\t“He doesn't have a fucking clue. Such is the whims of a young male heart; he will always fuss over his mate.” Otiv told her back with another almost belly laugh. “Good work by the way; your healing skills are impressive.” Might have given the little moon goddess a big head for a moment once more thumbing that nose of hers. What a being to get a complement from after all. Though that did bring the two wolves to pause. Only the realization that slowly washed over Anthony's face led Otiv to tease. “There it is.” The eye paused. Anthony gave a sudden sob sounding laugh. Wrapped his hands around his head. Tears welling up in his eyes. “Mighty quiet here isn't it?” Annie's own face softened as she watched the stern veneer of the knight fall away from the man she loved. Who suddenly started sobbing for a moment still clutching his hands to his head. It wasn't a sad sound though it was a sobbing more of relief. Like such a heavy weight finally had been taken off his chest; and now he just could not believe it. “Yes my friend Silence may be the one thing I fear; but in this moment it is the best gift I could give.” So Otiv promptly took a breath then held it and the silence that fell over them stopped the wolf's crying.
\tAs even the little goddess held still her powers to not disturb the aura. As true silence fell down on them. Anthony was stun locked in disbelief. Not one voice. Not one damn single fucking voice. For the first time in god knows how long. The man wasn't a roommate in his own head. “Silence.” Anthony said softly. “I had forgotten what it sounded like it.”
\t“It can be good for a moment of needing to unwind. But take it from one who suffered. I would never wish true silence on, even the ones I hate the most; forever.” Otiv told the wolf now looking up at the Eye who placed them where they needed to be. To finally get him the professional help he needed. Sure wasn't angelic; but it was divine enough. The Reason he didn't send the angel; was this was a wound that needed to be handled in house. Not by outside forces.
\tTo which that little moon gremlin was then parked on Anthony's left shoulder. “You really were broken, and deep to. Poor poor kid. I owe your mother an apology for not seeing such a truly demented wound.” The look on the little goddess face rather quickly darkened. “As both a healer and a goddess; never have I felt such shame. I am the patron god of all healers. How could I not see one of my own children was barring such hideous scars. Hue was right I am truly blind.” The little goddess continued to confess even as she started to shed tears. “My sister will never forgive me. How did I miss such an event; that's literally my part of our system. I watch for outside interference.”
\t“Though to be fair,” Otiv then said high above them as even Hue was moved to want to comfort Mother Moon. “The fact the boy survived at all for you to heal him. Is nothing short of a miracle in of itself. The boy and the boy alone. Survived having his very psyche shattered by the pressure of three different overwhelming power holders.” Otiv told them as even the little moon gremlin looked up now. “You did not know to look for such a wound, as he is quiet literally the first being that ever survived it. Once I was able to see the damage with my own Eye; and thank you girl. I was not ransacking his head, I was inspecting a wound. So I knew just what need be done.”
\tThough his words did in fact ease the little goddess worries and sorrows and stopped her tears. Luna smiled and promptly gave Anthony a hug. “You're all fixed now. No more voices, no more ghost; no more haunted life coming back to get you. Now you are free from your past.”
\t“Thank you.” Anthony finally said. Rubbing Luna's head, before looking up at the eye above them. “Both of you. Who else could have landed us in the font of dreams; the only place the moon goddess could heal my mind.” He gave a pause, held his breath then let out a nervous but laughed when yes silence once more was king in his head. He no longer shared his thoughts with his many many selves. Didn't have to live with millions of demented backseat drivers.
\tThough this was the part that made Annie sharply grab her uncles shirts. As Otiv high above them said. “Left far far more then its fair share of scars.” The girls hands flinching as the being above them said scars. “But finally the damage can heal. So even as I stand and am forced to remain the bastard of bastards. Do you believe me now?”
\tAnthony finally gave a sigh, then a nod. “Fine, I forgive you for the Dreadalisk war. If that was all it took to get my head like … actually fixed. Small price to pay.” Anthony said even as he now patted his head in a few places with his hands. It still didn't feel real, he seemed to fear he was about to wake up to mocks and jeers.
\t“Alright I hate to be this way but you need to leave now. You may be a druid but you are no dream walker; And Annie isn't even a druid at all.” Hue told them as he walked over to and offer Anthony his hand. Now that he was focused on did his form become known. He looked like a tall transparent ghost, with a green outline, but his horns were long sharp and rather proud looking. his attire and aura matches his power; and he was very regal indeed. Though given Anthony was able to take his hand and the bull was able to pull Anthony up; well told you how that worked didn't it. Annie got unlucky to be a blue ghost only green ghost can touch things. “You are not meant to be in the Font of Dreams, let alone in the presence of one of the goddess. Or well, I guess this time we got deeper in into his presence again.” And at that the bull offered a hand toward Otiv's portal. “His words however were true, he spoke no lie when he said the portal would take you home. We however do have many things to talk about once we are back friend. And I fear the little one will need my special healing. I'll get the oils ready.”
\tAnthony nodded, looked down to the pup once more in his arms. He scooped her up and carried her for now. Seems she too had learned the hard way but at least she was crazier. As she all but threw herself into an Outsiders arms. She gave a soft whine once her body was lifted and she was no longer carrying her own weight. Realized how sore she was Anthony had felt that strain before. “What did I say about jesting with potentially cosmic forces?” Anthony asked as he bopped Ann lightly on her nose.
\t“Said the guy who's done it … how many times now?” Annie barely had the strength to reply; but found enough for a little bit of sass.
\tSo as Anthony approached the purple portal. A casual glance back at the great eye one last time. Then stepped through found himself back at the cave he had 'fought' the dragon at. But looking back bar nothing; not even retreating tentacles. The two or more say three of them, as Sinner had by now returned to Anthony's fur. And now once more on 'home soils' and finally alone, did Annie finally let out a painful little whine. “I know Ann; let's get you to Hue.”
\t“Did you feel this way too?” the pup barely managed to utter.
\tAnthony didn't respond, so Annie had to work up enough umpf to even lightly grab his shirt. “Yeah, I felt that way to. No doubt same symptoms point for point; welcome to fucked around and found out syndrome. Now population to your ass. His is a truly heavy power to be suppressed under. You actually had the lady balls to submerge yourself though his core; but seems that must be how he removed you from my head and threw you in my nightmare.” And even though he went quiet for a few moments as he carried her slowly out of the cave. Though once they saw the cold light of dusk, didn't even seem too much time had passed since they entered the mountain. “Though the fact you even survived, let alone went deeper then I dared to; is nothing short a miracle.” Well that made the girl feel good enough to work up a smirk. “Don't smug face me when you can barely move. I don't ever want you to do something that dumb again. You actually placed your hands on a being from beyond level. You are damn lucky to have survived.” Then the look of emotions on his face made the smirk retreat. As the boys emotional stability seemed now rocky at best. The girls eyes managing to go wide seeing a tear drop hit her nose. “I … I can't loose you. After everything; you are the singular thing I have left. I can't lose you.” Then cradling the girl tight for a moment. Muting the girls face as her own emotions could find no room let to leave at the moment given her condition.
\tHowever seconds later the wolf gave a sharp whistle and the camera panned up.
\t~End of Chapter~
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