Willows of Wysteria

Prelude

Having to step away, then later re-enter onto the scene wasn't easy for anyone. Some made it look easy, but others? Others accepted that it was too difficult, and just stayed back.

Some stupid drifter decided that, after the disappearance and death of their beloved husband, that it was high time to light that fucking valley ablaze.

And, well, hell, they did just that.

It went up in smoke, the preachers all begging God with their last breaths. Why had He forsaken them? He still had time to forgive them. Please, Heavenly Father, please don't let us die here.

And they smiled. They did exactly what their beloved would've wanted.
Singing songs into the night, relishing in the victory he would've won, had his life not been ripped from him.. they were proud. They kissed the ring around their finger, which he had made from their favorite spoon, but began to weep.
They regretted taking those lives.. even if some of them deserved to die, was it.. was it their right to take it away?

..but.. those people were the ones who sacrificed their beloved. The ones that convinced the drifter that it was for the greater good, or whatever you call it.

The morning following the slaughter, they awoke to a little blue dragon in their bag. It had grabbed one of the fruits inside, and was trying to split it, but couldn't get a grip with its beak. They broke it, the little dragon staying close as it happily munched away. The diamond on its forehead, the downy wings.. the long, white hair that curled all down its back, and the teal eyes that gleefully sparkled at them..

Why, it reminded them of their husband. Moreso when that voice like butterflies seemed to emit from its small body.

"Dolce mio.. ciao."

"Ciao, ciao.." they whispered in reply, kissing the diamond on its head. "I missed the sound of your voice."

"It's all I can offer, mi dispiace."

"It's enough."

The dragon stayed pressed against the crook of their neck, breathing in their scent deeply.

"..you're so tense." Murmured the voice, pulling away to look at them. "Oh, amore.. no need to cry.."

They gasped as they tried to stop crying, the dragon gently licking away the tears.

"I missed you so much.." they wept, the creature cooing at them.

"Oh, dolce mio.. Jackie, there's no need to be so emotional.." he whispered, bumping their cheek with his head.

"Emmy, I.." they sobbed, the dragon kneading against their chest. "We had so many plans.."

"No need to grieve our plans, amore.. you may move towards a new future.. I'm here to support you. As your colleague. ..goodness, I didn't think that'd be so devastating for you to hear.."

Jackie whimpered, sobbing again. It was too difficult to move on. They so badly missed him, and here he was, sorta, telling them that he was here for them. ..as they pursued a new life with someone else.

"I can't.."

"You can, dolce mio.. you must work towards your new life. For me. You can't keep wanting us. I will not be coming back. I am as I am." He explained, being rather crude. "Tesoro, you.. you have to let go."

Emmy stayed close to them, Jackie rubbing his ear. He purred, before pulling away. He peered around them, trying to figure out where they were.

"Bello.. where are we?"

"Outside Wysteria."

"Why? Why must you camp outside civilization? We were fine in the alleys-"

"I can't. Everyone asks me where you are."

Emmy froze, snapping to look at Jackie in horror.

"..Jackie.." he muttered, crawling back into their lap. "Amore, you can tell them. It's okay to say I'm gone."

"..I can't. It's too hard."

Emmy sighed, waddling over to what used to a fire pit. He grabbed a stick, tripping over a rock, and taking a short tumble. Jackie watched, realizing they weren't crying anymore. Their head throbbed.
He dropped the stick on their lap, wagging his tail, and almost giving them a little smile.

"I'm sure there's a reason the heavens allowed us to meet, dolce mio," he said, Jackie turning the stick in their hands. There didn't seem to be anything special about it. "Perhaps you can talk to the Twelve-?"

"Absolutely not."

"Goodness, you didn't even consider it."

"Those bastards immediately switched to corrupt forms of rule. They had no regard to your life."

"Oh, well," he continued, "that can't be helped."

"It can't?" They exclaimed, Emmy shrugging. "If they knew you weren't dead-"

"Jackie." His voice was firm. "I am gone. I'm only here in spirit. One day, I'll ascend past Oblivion, and we'll never speak again. This dragon will remain, amore, but this conscience will not."

Jackie took a deep breath. They didn't want him to say that.

"Why don't you go confide in the Priest?" Jackie glared at him. "Goodness, what a nasty look on such a cute face.."

"Emmy-"

"Now, stop that. Come, dolce mio, you must go speak to someone. Trying to hide from grief will only hurt more, won't it?"

Jackie lowered their gaze. They obeyed the dragon with their husband's voice, following the little creature, until he crawled up their body to their shoulders.

"Wh-"

"I like it better up here," he answered, Jackie collecting their few belongings. "That's my shaw."

"Would you like it back?"

"No, tesoro, keep it. It makes you happy."

Jackie smiled, kissing his small head. Emmy made a chirping sound, Jackie finally picking up their waterskin. They headed towards the city, that familiar feeling of loneliness coming back.