The wind howled around them as they plummeted into the ash, Jasper flying safely before she could hit the ground. The moment Salem and the others lifted their heads, the ash began to shift, dragging them away. Mono's eye went wide when she saw the quickly approaching cliff, her body tensing.
"Fall!"
Jasper shrieked as her friends fell over the cliff's edge, plummeting to the ground far below. Her tiny wings beat through the air as she raced down, watching as they landed in a dune of ash, disappearing underneath the grainy, sand-like substance. "G-guys!"
She flew closer, Sapphire's head popping up first, then Mono, and lastly Salem. The doll freed her arms and clapped her hands with a bright smile.
"Again, again!"
"No thank you," Mono mumbled after spitting out a mouthful of ash. "We're lucky this was here... If it wasn't, that fall would have killed us."
Mono had no trouble pulling herself out with her strength, the monoeye checking her horn to ensure it wasn't broken or chipped before helping Salem and Sapphire. It was just the four of them. As expected, the First Vao's Soul was absent. Salem ruffled the ash from her now messy hair, turning her turquoise gaze up - and froze.
Stretching as far as any of them could see was nothing but ash, with ruined buildings of past Timelines half buried underneath the dunes. The eclipse was still ongoing, hanging high in the sky with its ominous red ring casting a twilight glow on the barren wasted land. Jasper was the first to speak.
"W... Where's the prison...?" She whispered. There was no sign of the gloomy, gothic structure. There weren't even any signs of life, not even the abominations that had plagued the First Vao's Reality. It looked... Dead.
What did this mean? They couldn't even feel the Blood's influence. But he definitely had it; he wouldn't have bled black if he didn't. Down the dunes, across a deep and seemingly bottomless ravine was a small ruined town. It was the closest to shelter. Mono beckoned with her hand.
"... Come. We should get out of this wind," she whispered. The three women nodded, following the dune to the side of a half-submerged, desolate tower. There was a narrow path they could walk on leading across the ravine. Pressing their backs to the wall with Jasper flying over the edge, they began to cross.
They were tense, expecting an attack from... Something. But nothing ever came. The lifeless Reality bore no enemies to fight. As they jumped to the other side, Salem rubbed her forehead. "This... This doesn't make any sense," she muttered. "Realities reflect a person's heart; their memories, their dreams... I know the First Vao didn't have any memories, but it still took the form of a prison earlier... And he even said his new dream was to take over the world, not... This... This can't be his dream. This can't be anyone's dream."
"Where is he?" Mono mumbled in agreement as they walked through an abandoned church. "If we can find him, then we might get some answers..."
Their feet touched the sandy ash again as they walked through a hole in the wall, quickly finding themselves at a dead end with no way around. Only Jasper would be able to fly over the sheer cliff face, and it was too loose for the others to climb it.
"How do we get up there?" Sapphire asked.
"I could throw you," Mono suggested.
"But that means you'd be left behind!" Salem pointed out. They began to argue lightly, tossing ideas out in the open.
"Oh, you guys are stuck too?"
The four women shrieked in surprise, spinning around to see Saril standing before them. The arachne tilted her head, squinting at them curiously. "... Where's Yin?"
"H-he's not with us, but... But what happened here?" Salem stammered. But Saril didn't look like she knew, either. The arachne shrugged her bare shoulders.
"I don't know... After you guys disappeared, Yin and that dullahan's magic separated Lord Vao from his Blood. There was a really bright flash, and I ran. When I came out of my hiding place, everything was like this."
Saril wasn't any help, they decided. It looked like she had been extremely lucky to just be standing here, and not ending up... Wherever the rest of the Souls were.
The ground trembled as the ash shifted underfoot, the church cracking next to them. With a thunderous slam, a chunk of the wall broke away and dropped above them, caught by a lower portion of the cliff.
"Hey... If we go back inside, couldn't we use the wall like a bridge?" Sapphire asked. Now five, the women moved back into the church, Jasper resting on Salem's shoulder. Sure enough, light spilled where the wall had broken away, and it was strong enough to hold their weight. They were still nervous crossing over the gap, even if it wasn't that high.
The plateau they found themselves conserved as an alternative path up the cliff, the distant town growing closer. Sliding down a dune, they found themselves at the foot of it, the buildings creaking around them.
"This... This is Faralda, isn't it?" Mono asked. Salem nodded.
"A piece of it... It looks like it was mixed with a part of Grimmore..."
Sure enough, the Victorian-styled buildings mingled with the old-fashioned style of the merchant town. It wasn't a very big place, and Grimmore's massive tree loomed at the very end. They figured that was the goal, the women moving through the town quietly. They hadn't gotten very far before Mono tensed, Salem and Jasper looking at her worriedly. "What's wrong, Boss?" Sapphire asked.
Mono gulped, sweat rolling down her forehead. "S... Something's following us."
Immediately they were on alert, their hands resting on their weapons as they swivelled around. There was no hostile intent in the air, nor the unnatural feeling of nearby abominations. But even still, they couldn't be sure. Jasper yelped when a shadow flitted into the alley, pointing her finger.
"H-hey! Over there!"
Carefully they moved closer, Saril peeking around the corner. But the alley was empty. "No one's here," she said. "If they aren't attacking us... Should we just keep going? It could be another Soul..."
"Have you even seen any Souls since the flash?" Mono asked. Saril shook her head.
"No, Milady."
"Then it could be an enemy," Jasper said.
Regardless, they tried to continue through the town, fully aware of the stranger following them. But every time they looked to the sound of the footsteps, they jumped into hiding. With each glimpse, they were beginning to doubt the hostility they suspected. If it was an abomination, they'd have been attacked by now.
Grrrooooooowwwwwlllll...
With the exception of Saril, Salem, and Sapphire, everyone flinched, whirling around. Salem's cheeks burned hot, the princess averting her gaze. "S... S-sorry... I haven't eaten in a while..."
"Control your stomach!" Jasper snapped. "You trying to give me a heart attack!?"
"Surely there is somewhere to get food," Mono murmured, looking at the rows of buildings. "This place is huge, after all."
Jasper groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "We could really use Sasha's conveniently-packed food right about now... I'm hungry too."
"I haven't eaten in a long time," Saril agreed.
Sapphire turned her head, smiling happily. "Hi! I'm Sapphire, like the rock! What's your name?"
"Oh, I don't have one. Wot... Are you, anyway?"
"I'm a doll!"
The others spun around at the sound of the new voice, their faces going pale. The stranger had come out of hiding, squatting down next to Sapphire curiously. From the body shape, it was a woman. But her features were hidden under a leather jacket, jeans, boots, gloves, and a gas mask that slightly muffled her voice. Immediately they drew their weapons, the stranger falling back in surprise.
"Wait, wait!"
"Who are you!?" Jasper demanded. Mono immediately pushed the fairy out of the way, pointing a finger at the woman.
"Your voice... Are you Vao?"
The woman shook her head rapidly. "N-no! Wot kind of name is that, a-anyway!?"
The Heroes stared at her silently, Jasper lowering her daggers, Salem sheathing her rapier again. The accent was very similar, but the voice... Sounded different. Still feminine, and very similar to the First Vao's voice. But it wasn't raspy, nor was it cold and unfriendly. And not just that, but the First Vao wouldn't cower to anyone. This woman trembled on the ground in front of them, shaken from the sudden sight of their weapons.
But even still, they couldn't just throw away the possibility that it could be him. Mono flashed a glare at Jasper, the fairy hesitantly putting her daggers away. The woman breathed a sigh of relief in her gas mask, slowly standing back up and dusting the ash off herself.
"G-goodness... That was a scare," she whispered. Salem decided to take the lead, choosing a softer tone compared to Jasper's angry shouts.
"... Who are you? Were you the one following us?"
The woman nodded. "Y-yeah... I don't have a name, but I saw you walk into town. I didn't mean to make you angry, I just... I got a little excited..."
"Excited?" Mono echoed. The woman nodded, seeming to relax a bit.
"Yeah... It's been a really long time since I've seen anyone else but me," she replied. "I followed you becoz I didn't know how to start a conversation... Th-then I heard you mention something about food..."
Saril shrugged. "We don't have any, so we can't share anything."
"B-but I wasn't going to ask for food," the woman said. "I live not far from here... I was going to ask if you wanted some of my food."
The Heroes looked at each other quietly. Mono leaned closer to Salem, her voice a hushed whisper that went unheard by the woman when she was distracted by Sapphire again. "That has to be Vao," she hissed. "Please, we must go with him!"
Salem gulped, looking back at the woman. "A-are you... Sure that's him...?"
"What are you talking about? Of course I'm certain!" Mono snapped.
They glanced back at the woman, watching as she investigated Sapphire curiously. Her Soul didn't feel the same as the First Vao's. It didn't hold any pain, no misery. Salem sighed in defeat, turning to the woman.
"Er... Miss?" She called. A part of her was hoping that the woman would correct her and confirm her gender, which the First Vao would have done. But the woman looked up all the same.
"M-me?"
"Yes, Miss," Salem repeated. But there was still no correction. She only got the stranger's attention. With a bitter expression, Salem nodded her head. "Can you take us to your home?"
The woman jumped to her feet, nodding her head. "Of course! Follow me, it's not far!"
She didn't even walk like the First Vao. This woman had a pep in her step, her arms swinging loosely at her sides as they walked down the ashen streets. She even chatted away with a chipper tone.
"Oh, please don't mind the mess when we get there. I try really hard to sweep it all out, but the ash always comes back," she said. "I promise my cooking ware is clean! I-I don't have much for furniture, but it feels good to eat outside! I really like listening to the wind over a good meal! I-if you want, you could even spend the night! U-um, not that there really is a night... The eclipse is always there... I kind of just sleep when I'm tired..."
She didn't seem to have any plans to stop talking any time soon. Mono cleared her throat, noticing the absence of the First Vao's weapons. It wasn't like the woman was wearing a cloak; her belt was easily seen. "Where are your weapons?"
"Weapons?" The woman echoed. "Wot would I need weapons for?"
"This can't be Vao," Salem whispered. Mono shot her a glare, turning back to the woman.
"Surely you had an axe once? Perhaps even a dagger?"
But the woman shook her head, letting out a nervous giggle. "N-no... I really don't like fighting unless I have to... There's nobody else around, so I've never needed anything. Fighting... It's kind of scary, innit?"
Mono wanted to wipe the 'I-told-you-so' look off Salem's face. The First Vao would never discard his weapons with his level of paranoia. And while he didn't like killing, he still enjoyed the thrill of a sparring match. The woman seemed to catch on to Mono's despair.
"S-sorry... We're almost to my home!"
They rounded the corner, the woman's house coming into view. It was clear it was once abandoned, and she had eventually started living there. There wasn't even a front door; it had long been withered away by the ash. Stepping inside the rundown hut, they found a small, yet comfortable home. In the corner the ash had been piled up like a bed, with an old pillow and blanket tossed over it. Next to an empty fireplace was a set of ancient plates. Old, yet clean. The woman skipped ahead, gesturing around the small living space.
"Make yourselves right at home! I'll start preparing a meal!" She said. Without further warning, she ran back out the door, disappearing around the house. They could hear her behind the building moving around. They couldn't tell what she was doing from where they were.
Saril was still outside, too big to fit through the door. And even if she did, there wouldn't be any space for anyone else with the size of her spider half. Instead she leaned her human half through the hole that served as the window. "This is a really... Comfortable place," she said. "It's cramped..."
"It would be worse if you came inside," Jasper muttered. Saril looked mortified.
"A-are you calling me fat!?"
"No, you dimwit!"
Saril turned her head towards the door, the woman soon returning with a basket. "Hey! Sorry it took so long! I had to make sure I had enough for everybody."
"What is it?" Saril asked curiously. The woman tilted the basket forward and opened the lid, showing off what she had planned for their meal.
"Vegetables! I grow them in the backyard. There's a small stream and a patch of dirt I found under all the ash, so I use it to grow food."
Sure enough, there was a small assortment of cucumbers inside. It didn't seem like she had anything else. Salem took a cucumber and furrowed her brow. "You don't have meat?"
The woman shook her head. "No, I don't really like meat. It makes me feel... Guilty," she explained. "And b'sides, being a vegetarian isn't so bad. I wouldn't want to hurt the animals. They're my only company."
"Aminals?" Sapphire echoed. "But we didn't see anything!"
The woman chuckled, leading everyone outside before sitting down in the ash. "You can't see them? They're everywhere!"
They followed her pointing finger, spotting a whole lot of nothing. There were no animals. She was just crazy. As they followed her example and sat down in the ash, they watched as the woman tilted her mask up just enough to expose her mouth to eat, never completely taking it off. Her skin wasn't the same as the First Vao's, either. Where his was snow white, the woman had at least a bit of color. She was still pale, but it didn't come anywhere close to the First Vao's ghastly appearance.
"Why don't you take your mask off?" Mono asked. The woman swallowed her food, shaking her head.
"I'd prefer to keep it on," she said. "I've got some really nasty scars underneath it, and it makes me feel better to hide them. The filter makes it easier to breath in the ash wastes, too! It's not just for aesthetic, but it's practical!"
"What sort of scars?"
"U-um... I-I really don't want to talk about it... S-sorry..."
That was probably the closest they had to a hint of this woman possibly being the First Vao. They ate in silence for a moment before the woman spoke again.
"Oh! Where are you off to?" She asked. "You couldn't be here without a reason, right?"
Salem nodded. "We're looking for the First Vao. We're trying to save his Soul from the Blood."
"Blood?"
"A big, scary monster!" Sapphire said. The woman flinched back.
"W-wait, you can't do that! You'll die!"
Salem nearly dropped her cucumber. "You know about the Blood?"
The woman nodded. "Y-yeah... Past the big tree, there's a really deep hole. A long time ago, a monster came out and took everybody away. That's... All I really remember from those days..."
She didn't seem to know the difference between a monster and the Blood. Just another nagging thought added to their minds that this wasn't the First Vao. Jasper crossed her arms, standing on top of her cucumber. "We came all this way, we're going there. We need to kill that thing."
The woman bit her lip, lowering her mask again. "... I-I mean I can't stop you... But if you're going, then... C-can I come? I don't want to be alone again..."
Sapphire had already answered before anyone could say anything. "Uh huh!"
"Good girl," Mono praised. The woman raised her mask to finish off her cucumber, waiting for everyone to finish theirs before they stood up. She waved her hand through the air dramatically.
"Y-you can count on me! I'm not a fighter, b-but I know this place like the back of my hand!" She boasted. Jasper raised an eyebrow.
"If you're coming with us, what should we call you? Since you don't have a name and all."
"U-um..."
"How about Gassy?" Saril suggested happily. "You know, since you wear a gas mask!"
"P-please don't call me Gassy!"
"Cucumber?" Sapphire threw in. Jasper tugged on the doll's ear, scolding her harshly. Mono was quick to add her suggestion.
"Can we call you Vao?" She asked hopefully. But the woman fidgeted with her hands.
"U-um... Isn't that your friend's name...?"
Mono looked critically wounded. Salem sighed, wishing the Cult Leader wouldn't take it to heart, even if she was convinced this woman was the First Vao when her mannerisms weren't like his. She gazed around the small, dead-end street, searching for an idea.
"How about... Ashley?"
All eyes shifted to her, Saril letting out a groan. "Aw, but that's normal! Why not something unique?"
"I-I like the name-"
"Don't let her brainwash you, Cucumber," Sapphire said.
It seemed like it was decided, after Jasper pulled her sister off to the side and scolded her again. Mono still seemed upset about the name choice, but she didn't say anything about it. With nothing to pack, they began to move the rest of the way across town with Ashley guiding them.
"So this hole you mentioned," Salem began. "Just how far away is it?"
Ashley hummed, stroking the side of her gas mask. "U-um... Maybe a few hours... I don't go that way very often. Sometimes, odd little monsters climb out of the hole."
"Anything we should be worried about?"
Ashley shook her head. "No. As long as they don't see you, they shouldn't attack. That's wot I do."
Salem nodded in thought, eyeing the woman up and down. Unlike Mono, a part of her was convinced that Ashley and the First Vao couldn't be the same. But the other half of her believed that Mono was correct.
It just didn't add up. Ashley seemed to have been living here a long time. Was it the convoluted time of Reality warping and twisting under the Blood's influence? That could be likely. But even then, Ashley claimed to have never owned a weapon. Her personality was so far different from what she had expected, that she couldn't entirely be sure who Ashley was. Was she the First Vao in disguise? Or was she just one of the Souls he had taken?
"W-why are you looking at me like that?"
Salem blinked at her own reflection that stared out at her through the goggles of Ashley's mask, giving her head a quick shake. "Nothing. Just lost in thought," she replied.
The edge of town was quite a sight. Stretching the rest of the way to the tree was a swamp, the murky and muddy waters bubbling slowly. Ashely held out a hand.
"U-um... This swamp is poisonous," she said. "We need to cross in order to reach the tree's roots."
"What are we supposed to do, walk through it?" Jasper asked. "I can fly, Sapphire isn't affected by poison, and I'm guessing that gas mask offers you some form of protection, but that leaves everyone else standing here."
"I was getting to that!" Ashley exclaimed. The optimistic tone was coming back into her voice. "You see the roots growing from the swamp? We need to use those. They stretch right over the first portions of the swamp and to the little islands in the middle. From there, we can use a little trail to cross the rest!"
"That could work," the fairy muttered. "Just don't fall..."
Ashley led them to the root she had been talking about, climbing on top of it and waiting for the others to catch up. Saril and Jasper had the easiest time, with Saril being part spider and Jasper hitching a ride on Salem's shoulder. Up above, they could see the path Ashley had mentioned. The strange woman snapped her fingers all of a sudden.
"Oh! I remember seeing a few pretty things up ahead! I'll go get them for you!" She gasped. "Who knows? They might be useful! I'll meet you at the end of the swamp!"
Without warning, she ran along the tree roots, jumping into the swamp below. She sank to her knees before trudging through the poisonous sludge, her gas mask protecting her. Salem balanced precariously on the root as she walked across, the Heroes finally alone to talk.
"That is Vao, I know it," the Cult Leader said. "If we can get that mask off, you'll see that I'm correct."
"How can you be so sure? Ashley tends to skip. I've never seen Lord Vao do that," Saril pointed out. "And she seems a lot happier... He was kind of gloomy..."
"I would never forget the man I fell in love with," Mono argued. "None of you knew him like I did. I take pride in the fact that I made him happy."
Sapphire giggled, looking up at her. "Boss won the fight with Tourmaline!" She exclaimed. At the mention of the dead fairy's name, the mood dropped drastically. No one could be angry at Sapphire for it, though. She didn't mean to. With a light cough, Mono turned to Salem after they jumped to another root, progressing slowly through the swamp.
"Regarding other matters," she said, changing the subject. "What did you do outside? You never said you could enter people's Realities. In fact, everyone made it seem like Yin and Vao were the only ones capable of doing such a thing."
Salem gulped, tugging at her collar. The air above the swamp was humid. "I... Don't know. I was just as surprised as you guys, and the First Vao didn't seem to know what it was either. He said it wasn't magic..."
"Bullshit," Jasper cut in. "That was one of the most magical things I've seen. It didn't feel like Light or Darkness, but it could've been something similar. You sure you can't use magic?"
"I-"
Salem paused. She never really thought about it, but she couldn't remember what her life was like before the Blood had corrupted her, not a single detail other than that she was human. It wasn't until Jasper had directly asked about her ancient past that she realized her amnesia.
"U-uh... M-maybe I can...?"
"You don't sound so sure," Mono said. Salem sighed, carefully navigating over a portion of the root that had become slippery with slime, the others doing the same.
"I... I don't remember. The Blood might've caused my amnesia-"
"V-Vao might forget about me?"
Salem immediately shook her head, trying not to upset Mono. "No, no! The Blood had completely transformed me. We entered his Reality before it could finish with him, so he should remember everything before it!"
Mono looked like a huge weight had just lifted off her shoulders, the Heroes leaping off the roots and to the rocky island in the heart of the swamp. Sapphire stared over the poisonous biome with her typical smile, turning back to her friends. "I can't see Ashley~! She must've gone really deep!"
"I hope she's okay," Saril fretted. "I don't know this area, so if she gets hurt or lost, we won't find this hole."
"You probably wouldn't even be able to see it anyways," Jasper replied from Salem's shoulder. "You're practically useless when it comes to seeing long distances."
"Y-you're just as mean as always!" Saril pouted.
"Sorry. Not everyone can be as amazing as I am," Jasper bragged. Her ego was showing again. From her tone, she completely believed she was the greatest.
...
"N-nnn... Y-Yin... M-my head... I-it h-hurts..."
The scythe-wielding hero ran his fingers through his brother's long hair, the serial killer's head resting on his lap. Sitting against the tree, he could hear the search parties combing the woods. He blew the smoke around his cigarette, keeping his voice low. "Shh... You'll be okay," he whispered. "We're almost out of here-"
"W-why?"
The First Yin pinched his cigarette and lowered it, raising an eyebrow. "What?"
A pair of frigid hands gripped his collar, a single scarlet eye staring at him from underneath messy, bloodstained bangs. "Y-Yin... W-why are you... P-protecting me?" The feminine voice rasped. "Th-the General... S-Schnee... She's r-right... I-I've killed everybody, s-so why are you...?"
The First Yin tightened his grip on his cigarette, pulling his brother closer. "I don't need a reason," he growled. "I won't let that stuck-up bitch shoot you dead. I... I promised to let you have a better life, and I'll make damned sure you get it."
"B-but they'll be a-after you too-"
"Shut the fuck up. I don't care."
The First Yin fell silent, listening carefully. It sounded like the search parties were getting closer. He could hear Winter's voice now.
"No one is leaving this forest until they're found!" She was commanding. "After you put the anti-Semblance system on Branwen, I want him locked up until his execution! Yin has one chance to turn that bastard over. If he resists, he is to be arrested!"
The First Yin scoffed. "Yeah, definitely a stuck-up bitch," he muttered. Lifting his brother carefully in his arms, the Hero of Light quietly moved away, keeping a light jog. "C'mon. Just a little farther-"
"N-no!"
He shoved himself away from the blonde, nearly collapsing to the ground. "I-I ruin everything! I-if you take me away, you'll p-pay-"
"And I'm willing," the First Yin snapped. "I'm not losing my brother again!"
"But-" his chest suddenly convulsed, his lips parting in a wet, raspy cough that yielded specks of Blood. In an instant the First Yin was there to catch him before he could collapse. The Hero of Light slung his icy arm over his shoulder, dragging him deeper into the forest, his cigarette smoldering.
"I-I'm not... Letting a-anything happen to you again," he growled gruffly. "I'm... I'm going to keep you safe, even if it means letting you take bites out of me... Do you hear me?"
He glanced down to find his long-time mortal enemy unconscious, his stress finally getting the best of him. The First Yin sighed before adjusting himself, carrying his brother on his back. Looking at his face, he took in the features he had never stopped to take in.
The horribly pale skin from a lack of sun in the Land of Darkness, the pitch black rings under his eye and eye socket from years of very little sleep, and his long, overgrown and unkempt black hair that he had never cut since his teenage years, when they had first separated. Even with his unhealthy appearance, even though he looked distressed even as he slept, it was still his brother. The First Yin heaved a sigh, turning his blue eyed gaze back to his front.
"I... I promise, Vao..."
...
The Heroes blinked, the swamp returning to view. Saril was the first to speak. "W... What was that?"
No one answered for a long time. Mono and Salem shared a knowing, confused look. There was no doubt about it; they had just seen a memory. But the First Vao remembered almost nothing. Why would they see even a glimpse of his memories?
Was it because his Soul had been separated from the Blood like Saril said? Did that mean his memories were running around, out of his control? Mono looked away, staring at the ground. Jasper and Sapphire had fallen silent, neither saying a word. Sapphire wasn't even smiling anymore.
It explained why the First Vao wasn't executed in the Graveyard. The First Yin had thrown away his status as a hero of Remnant and took up arms against New Atlas to protect him from his execution. It made sense, the pieces of the First Vao's unknown history after the First Timeline beginning to click together; it was clear that the First Timeline still hated and feared him. They wouldn't let him live among them just because they were sent to the Graveyard.
And if that wasn't enough, the First Yin's attempts to protect the First Vao from the Blood had been pointless, in the end. He still succumbed to the Blood, he still became a tool for the Gods.
None of them said a word, Salem spotting the narrow, winding path that stuck out of the poisonous swamp, the Heroes trudging across. Saril, with how wide her spider-half was, had a noticeably harder time, but was managing nonetheless. At their sides, the swamp bubbled and gurgled quietly, the edge coming closer.
They finally reached the bank, breathing a sigh of relief. From above, a voice called out to them.
"Hey!"
Ashley jumped down from a small ledge, landing beside them, the ash kicking up in a small cloud. She adjusted her gas mask before walking up to them, waving her hand. In her other hand sling over her shoulder was a bag.
"I'm glad you guys made it. I was a little worried..."
"We've managed through worse than a swamp," Salem reassured her. Ashley looked relieved.
"Oh, thank goodness... Here, this is what I got for you guys." She set the bag down and opened it up, rifling through a variety of Dust and ammunition. Salem picked up one of the crystals, furrowing her brow.
"D-Dust?"
"My weapon is capable of using Dust," Mono said. "So are Jasper and Sapphire's weapons."
At least it had some use. Ashely snapped her gloved fingers - not very loudly, of course. Snapping fingers in gloves wasn't easy. "Oh, I also found this!"
She reached into the bag and fished out something Salem recognized immediately. It was a golden lamp, layered in a coating of ash. She took it into her hands immediately.
"Th... The Relic of Knowledge!?"
"Relic of... That's a lamp," Saril said.
Salem didn't feel like explaining it. At least Mono and Jasper seemed to know what it was; the First Vao most likely told them. The question was; how did it get here? Why was it here? Salem quickly rubbed her palm against it, brushing away the ash.
... But nothing happened. Jinn never appeared. Salem stared at it expectantly, waiting for a response that didn't come. Was this just a replica? No, she was sure it was the real Relic. Ashley gestured down the road, towards the great tree.
"Should we go?" She asked. "We'll have to climb the tree to get to the other side. There's cliffs surrounding it, so we can't go around."
"How will we get up there?" Sapphire asked.
Ashley pointed at the thick, truck-sized vines that crossed the thick trunk. "We'll walk up those!"
As the Heroes followed Ashley to the tree, Salem gave one last look at the lamp, giving it a little shake. She could feel power coming from it. But why didn't Jinn answer? Tying it to her hip, she pressed on, jogging to catch up. Mono was interrogating Ashley again.
"Do you like tea?"
"I-I've never had tea."
"Of course you have."
"But I-"
"Do you have tea leaves? I can make you tea," Mono insisted. "Or perhaps we could play chess? You love chess."
"I-I don't kn-know wot that is..."
Salem elbowed Mono's shoulder, the Cult Leader glowering at her. Salem ignored it, looking at Ashley curiously. "Hey, Ashley. Have you seen other items like this lamp?"
"L-like wot?"
"There should be a sword, a staff, and a crown," Salem replied. "They're all the same color scheme."
Ashley looked down in thought, the goggles of her mask reflecting the ground beneath their feet. "U-um... I can't remember seeing a crown or a staff near here, but at the top of the tree is a sword. I can go get it, if you want. It's really high up, but I'm good at climbing. I-I don't mind, really!"
"Can we play chess first?"
Mono got another sharp elbow from Salem. "Later. We'd like to get to know you better."
"Oh, okay."
Sapphire immediately tugged on Ashley's sleeve, catching her attention. Mono glared at Salem angrily. "Why must you interrupt us? I am trying to help him remember me," she growled.
"You're bothering her," Salem said. "If Ashley really is the First Vao, then we can't force his memories back."
"Isn't that what happened when Yin entered your Reality in the Second Timeline?"
Salem shook her head. "No... He never saw my memories. I don't even remember them myself. You can't force memories back. From what we saw, it looks like they come back on their own-"
"I have to at least try," Mono interrupted. "You saw my memories. You know how special he is to me!"
"I'm fully aware," Salem agreed. "But isn't this magical, in a way? You get to meet him for the first time again."
Mono blinked, stroking her chin thoughtfully. "I... Didn't think of it like that," she murmured.
Salem breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She had been talking out of her ass to convince Mono to give Ashley a little more space. Soon they were walking along the vines, Salem refusing to look down at the ground hundreds of feet below. Still, she looked at the horizon.
In a way, the ashen wasteland looked peaceful. With the seemingly permanent eclipse hanging in the sky, it bathed the barren ash dunes and ruined buildings in a gentle glow.
"It's... Kind of breath-taking, in its own way," Jasper said softly.
"I know, right?" Ashley chirped. "It makes me happy I can enjoy the sights with other people now. It just isn't the same by yourself."
They continued further up the tree, Ashley and Sapphire locked in a deep conversation about cucumbers. When Salem glanced behind her, Jasper was bullying Saril again. Mono wasn't in a very talkative mood, the monoeye lost in thought and occasionally glancing at Ashley. With a sigh, she slowed her pace down to let Jasper and Saril catch up to her.
"See me? I'm peak feminine form!" Jasper was boasting. "You got a big butt, and that's all you have going!"
"I-it's not big! I can't help it that I'm half spider!"
"Knock it off, Jasper," Salem said. "Saril's got her... Charms."
Saril looked at her happily. "O-ooh, like what?"
"Er..." Salem really didn't have anything. She was just trying to make Saril feel better. Well, time to bullshit her way out of it. "Th-there's so many that it's hard to choose... You're very... Carefree. And you got pretty eyes."
"Dude, she's got eight of them," Jasper pointed out. That comment earned her a flick on the rear from the princess. "O-ow!"
Saril scuttled closer to Salem, the princess on edge when she saw the fingernails that could shred through stone. "Heyyy, you're together with Yin, right?"
"Er... Y-yeah...?"
Saril leaned closer, squinting at the princess. "Can you break up with him so I can have him? That dullahan sold him to me, after all."
"Not a chance," Salem snapped.
Jasper scoffed, rolling her eyes. "And you got on me for being mean. I win anyways; Yin realized that I'm best girl and tried to sleep with me first."
"And how'd that work out, midget?" Salem growled. "Didn't you laugh at him for being a virgin?"
Jasper's cocky smirk fell from her face, Saril looking at her sadly. "That's... Really mean, Jasper..."
"It just came as a surprise, that's all!" The fairy shouted angrily. Salem rolled her eyes.
"I feel like a teenager," she muttered. "Talking about boys we like and stuff-"
"Oh, we're talking about boys?" Mono suddenly chipped in. Before Salem could deny it, the maid had already approached and began speaking. "Vao - my Vao, that is - is much better. Yin smells like cigarettes."
Salem glared at her. "At least Yin can build muscle. In every Timeline Vao just grew stronger; he never got any bigger."
"Yeah! And he's warmer than the First Vao! The First Vao is like a lump of snow!" Jasper agreed. Saril crossed her arms and nodded her head. Mono was the only one who had a thing for the First Vao. The monoeye scoffed.
"I suppose it's your opinion. Even if your opinion is obviously wrong," she muttered. "None of you know him like I do; you have no idea just how sweet he is."
"Doesn't his breath stink by now with all the corpses he's been eating?" Jasper challenged. Mono shook her head.
"No, he brushes and flosses his teeth regularly. His toothbrush always tastes like mint, too."
The trio looked at her with concern. "How... How do you know what his toothbrush tastes like?" Salem asked hesitantly. Mono furrowed her brow.
"You don't use Yin's toothbrush?"
"No! I use my own, like a normal person!"
"Fufufu... You just aren't dedicated to him is all."
Jasper groaned. "Just wait until she starts telling you other things she does, like watching him bathe or sniffing his dirty laundry... Tourmaline did that too. All without his knowledge, by the way," she muttered. Salem looked at Mono fearfully, the maid staring back with a small smirk.
"I am just ensuring he is not assassinated in the shower or his clothes aren't laced with contact poison," she lied as naturally as she breathed. Salem, Saril, and Jasper made a mental note that Mono was creepy as hell.
"Ooh, I like Vao!" Sapphire cried out, running to join the conversation.
"Which one?" Saril asked.
"The one who can take off his head!" Sapphire replied happily. "He's funny! And he cludders books with me!"
She meant it innocently. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, happy that Vao wasn't being unfaithful in any way. Saril looked over at Ashley, who hadn't joined the conversation. "What about you?"
"Wot about me?"
"Is there anyone you like?"
Ashley shrugged. "Well that... That seems like a silly question... You're the first people I've seen in a really long time. There isn't anyone for me to be interested in-"
"What would your ideal partner be like?" Mono interrupted. Ashley looked startled, tugging at the filter of her gas mask to adjust it.
"U-um... S-someone who's nice to me... Someone I can talk to, too..." She hummed, kicking her foot at the vines. "Um... And being in shape would be nice... I like people who stay healthy. I... F-feel like I met someone like that, once..."
"Was her last name 'Chroma'? 'Mono Chroma'?"
"I-I don't know... I've never met... I-isn't that your name?"
"That's enough, Mono," Salem said. "Don't worry about it, Ashley. We're just talking about romance. You know, girly things."
"Oh, o-okay..."
Sapphire scratched her head curiously. "Romance?" She echoed. Jasper nodded.
"Yeah. This conversation doesn't concern you, so go play with Ashley-"
"I like Vao!"
"He's MARRIED!"
"So?"
As Jasper verbally berated Sapphire, the others with the exception of Ashley resumed their conversation.
"Anyways," Salem continued. "Yin has a big heart, even if he's an ass sometimes. The First Vao is... Kind of cold. In multiple ways. In every Timeline, Vao's always been a bit more... Chaotically inclined."
"He keeps life interesting," Mono argued. "And besides, he's far more cute."
"Doesn't he look like a woman?" Saril asked. Mono giggled.
"Fufufu... You've never seen him in the bath," she said. "He's covered in scars, but he takes care of himself quite well-"
"He has the muscle mass of a stick figure," Salem interrupted. Mono turned around and bopped her on the nose with the meaty portion of her hand.
"He's very lean," the monoeye said.
"E-even still, I don't want to hear your stalker stories about watching him bathe!"
Mono outwardly expressed her frustration by glaring at her. "At least he doesn't reek of tobacco. And he likes to relax every now and again; as I've said many times before, he's very sweet when he trusts you."
"Name one time where he was better than Yin."
"Once he visited my room after he managed to get twenty minutes of sleep and awoke from a nightmare. He made tea and scones because he didn't feel like he showed his appreciation for my efforts at work, and the very next day he took me to watch the sunset," Mono answered. "Even after we returned home to Grimmore, he stayed at my side. He told me I made him feel special. He even let me brush his hair."
"But I thought he didn't like anyone touching him," Saril questioned. Mono looked very proud.
"I am the only one he allows to lay a hand on him."
"Lucky," Saril said. "I once tried to high five him and he flinched because he thought I was going to hit him. I never got my high five, but he bought me cockroach salad as an apology."
"I'm sorry, cockroach what?" Salem gasped. Mono answered her question in Saril's place.
"As you know, Grimmore's population is quite diverse; the most diverse on Twist as a matter of fact," she explained. "Even though Vao rarely left home when he first arrived, he still studied the various races that lived in Grimmore and tried to accommodate everyone's needs because we were nice to him. This included creating various recipes for different species; an examples would be bug-related cuisines for species similar to Saril's own. Another prime example would be worm spaghetti, which is a favorite among the birdfolk, such as harpies."
"That... Sounds very disgusting," Salem admitted. "But... Kind that he'd be willing to do something like that..."
"Well, of course," Mono replied. "As I've said many times before, he's not a bad person on the inside. He struggles to communicate with others, but he takes it to heart when someone shows him kindness. Like me, which you've seen in my memories."
"We're almost at the top!" Ashley called from ahead. "I'll go grab that sword. I'll meet you guys at the bottom!"
Without waiting for an answer, she kicked off the trunk of the tree and grabbed a branch from above, pulling herself up and disappearing among the leaves. Sapphire waved happily.
"Bye bye, Ashley! See you later!"
"Hey! Don't ignore me!" Jasper snapped. But Sapphire turned around and grabbed the fairy out of the air, holding her out in front of her.
"You can't be the boss of me! Now I'm bigger than you because I'm a doll and you're a little fairy!"
"UNHAND ME, GORILLA!"
With Jasper still clutched in her hands, they crested over the peak of the vines, staring at the ground far below. They could see the pit Ashley had mentioned a few hours ago down below, many miles away. It was massive, and from where they stood they couldn't see the bottom. Separating them from the hole was a variety of obstacles; the crumbling ruin of the First Timeline's Atlas and Mantle, a vast lake that shimmered under the light of the eclipse and reflected the event in the sky, and a forest of scarlet-leaved trees. A few abandoned villages dotted the landscape, some burned and others barren ghost towns.
"Like... Like a painting," Jasper whispered softly. She was right; sights like this were seldom ever in the real world. It was like a fantasy setting, and they wouldn't have believed it if they hadn't been seeing it with their own eyes. It renewed their resolve to continue on.
Starting their long journey down the side of the tree, Mono sighed softly. "You know... It's rare that Yin and Vao aren't around," she said. "Salem, do you think your strange magic can handle the Blood?"
Salem chewed her lip thoughtfully. "M... Maybe? It was enough to enter the First Vao's Reality, even though Yin's Light and Vao's Darkness were both needed... I'd honestly feel a bit better if they were here right about now..."
"Think of it this way!" Jasper shouted, finally writhing free of Sapphire's grasp. "We don't really get to hang out as girls! All we're missing is Verde and Sasha!"
"Sasha only wants to talk about lifting weights and playing sports," Salem replied. "She's too tomboyish to really relate to us."
"... What's wrong with lifting weights?" Mono asked suspiciously.
"Oh, right. You have a six pack," Salem muttered. "How much can you lift, anyway?"
"Three hundred and fifty-four kilograms was the most I've ever lifted with one hand," Mono answered.
"Holy fuck."
Mono chuckled, Salem contemplating how they even survived fighting the maid, feeling like the luckiest woman alive that Mono held back during her fight. Then again, she should have expected that - Mono literally blew up the thick marble walls of the chamber they fought her in just by screaming.
And without warning, a dizzy feeling washed over them.
...
The tea kettle whistled loudly in the late night air, the stovetop quickly turned off by a pale hand. The kettle was removed and poured into two cups, the steam dissipating when it drew too close to the ice cold face that hovered above, trying to check the temperature.
Plop.
The thin and feminine figure dropped a tea bag in each cup, taking the tray into his hands and making a move for the kitchen door. But it swung open before he could do it himself, a smiling face staring back at him with piercing yellow eyes.
"... Bonsoir, Mon Seigneur. A bit late to be making tea, non?"
The tray rattled lightly, the deathly pale figure giving him a small smile. "I-it's to share with Mono... Do you know if she's still awake, Jack?" He rasped.
"I do not know, Mon Seigneur," Jack replied. "Most people are asleep at this hour."
The man furrowed his brow thoughtfully. "Um... Why aren't you asleep? Do you have nightmares, too?"
"Non. I am just not tired," Jack replied.
"Oh, I see... Then I must be going," he rasped. Bidding Jack goodbye, he carefully made his way down the hall, trying not to spill the hot tea on himself. Not that it would hurt very much; it would go cold the moment it touched his skin. His one eye focused on the door in the center of the hall, just in front of and to the right of his own room. He stopped in front of the wooden frame, lowering his voice. "Au-Auntie... Can you knock for me please? If I hit it with my Darkness too hard, I'll break the door..."
A thin, emaciated hand gripped his right shoulder, a pair of lips brushing against his left ear. (("Just hold the stupid tray with one hand."))
"O-oh... Yeah, I can do that... S-sorry for bothering you..."
(("Go fuck yourself."))
The man flinched at the insult, raising his hand and giving a set of three soft knocks. Inside, he could hear something moving closer, the door swinging open to reveal his one-eyed maid dressed in her pyjamas. "Oh, good evening Vao," she said with a small hint of happiness. "Please, come in."
The tray rattled with each step he took, the serial killer setting it down on the desk before passing Mono a cup and taking his own, the pair moving to the bed to sit. The shadowy figure that grew from his back looked around curiously, invisible to Mono.
(("... Damn. This room is spotless. Not a speck of dust. You could learn a thing or two from her."))
Her comment was ignored, the master and servant taking a small sip of their tea before Mono initiated the conversation. "What brings you by, Vao? Is something the matter?"
He shook his head quickly, his voice almost raising, but remaining as quiet and raspy as ever. "N-no, not at all... I just wanted to spend some time with you... I-I hope I didn't wake you?"
"There is always time for you," Mono reassured, taking another small sip before continuing. "... Still, it looks like there's something you want to talk about."
He lowered his teacup, letting it rest in his lap. He seemed hesitant to answer. "... C-can... Can I have a hug?" He asked softly. Mono set her teacup on her nightstand, turning back to face him.
"Vao... What's wrong?"
His grip tightened around his beverage, threatening to crack the glass. By now his tea was as if he had left it in the refrigerator for an hour. His foot bounced up and down nervously; struggling to be completely honest. "I... I-I'm frightened," he admitted quietly. "E-each day, I... I-I keep forgetting more and more..."
Mono extended her hand, pausing just before she touched him. "Vao, I'm going to touch your shoulder... Is that all right with you?" She asked softly. She waited for him to slowly nod before giving him a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "... Are you frightened you'll forget your dream?"
But to her surprise, he shook his head furiously. "Th-that's not imp-portant."
Both Mono and the shadow looked at him in surprise, for different reasons. Where Mono was confused, the shadow was angry. His single scarlet eye stared up at her, brimming with icy tears.
"A-am I going to f-forget you?" He nearly whimpered. "I don't want to... I-I don't want to f-forget wot it feels like t-to be a human again... I-I can't... C-can't go back to living like that... I can't... I c-can't... H-hurt you, t-too..."
It wasn't uncommon for him to open up to Mono. But it wasn't often that he talked about his fears, even though she encouraged him to do so. Mono leaned closer. "You don't scare me, Vao... I won't let you forget me," she promised quietly. "I'll always be here for you..."
Shockingly, he leaned into her, his head resting against her shoulder. It was the first time he pressed against her on his own. Normally, she needed to ask to touch him. He finished off his tea, letting the empty cup fall to the carpet with a soft thunk.
"Have... H-have I ever told you why I h-hate being touched?" He asked softly. Mono shook her head.
"No... There are rumors, but you've never talked about it," she replied. His lips pulled back, tears beginning to fall.
"When... W-when I was eighteen... When I f-first started... K-killing people... I w-was assigned under the c-care of a m-man," he stammered. "B-becoz I l-look like a girl, h-he... E-every night, f-for t-ten years, he... T-touched me... H-he'd punch me, p-pull my hair... He'd b-beat me until I c-couldn't f-fight back, a-and then he'd... H-he'd rape me... It h-hurt... I... I-I hated being t-touched a-after that... I've n-never liked it. I h-hated the w-way I look... E-every time someone e-even patted my sh-shoulder for completing a m-mission, I'd remember h-him, a-and I'd..."
He trailed off, Mono immediately retracting her hand from his shoulder, a tight pain shooting through her chest. "Vao, I-I'm sorry-"
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand closer to him, pressing her palm against his tear-stained cheek, meeting her eye.
"B-but when you do it... I-I don't feel scared," he whispered. "I-I f-feel... S-safe... W-when you t-touch me, I f-forget him, for j-just a moment... I f-feel... H-happy... I-I like when you p-pat my h-head, a-and hold my h-hand... P-please, M-Mono... H-help me f-forget more... I-I don't w-want you to a-ask anymore..."
Mono wiped at her eye, her shoulders trembling. The rumors that she had prayed weren't true were just that. He was a victim of sexual assault, and had developed a deep fear of being touched as a result - haphephobia. Knowing that he liked her touch and her touch alone made her feel better, but only very little.
"V... Vao, i-if you n-need space, then-"
"I d-don't want space... I-I want... I-I want you," he rasped. They moved on instinct, Mono shifting closer, their head drawing near to each other. Gently, their foreheads collided, their noses touching.
For the first time, he felt small in her hands - and not because she was taller than him. She realized just how fragile he really was. After seeing him train himself until he passed out from exhaustion, hearing stories of the countless battles he had fought, it was easy to forget he wasn't invincible. Just like everyone else, he had his weaknesses. Underneath his strength, his magic, Blood, and his psychosis was still a human being with feelings. She couldn't imagine what it had been like to live without someone he relied on with his life, the one thing he had never trusted anyone with. Knowing it was her that he had chosen to trust, knowing that she made him feel special just like he did to her made her heart throb.
Their cold lips pressed against each other, Mono's fingers running through his long hair gently. She could feel his body tense, and then begin to relax, even leaning into the kiss. His freezing hands stroked at her waist, their tongues entwining together. Carefully, Mono pushed his overcoat away, letting it fall to the floor. They broke away for him to pull his shirt off, explosion his scarred chest.
Old stab wounds, bullet wounds, burn marks, whip marks, he had it all. And the worst part was she had the terrible feeling that half of them didn't come from battle. He shivered under her touch as she traced them with her fingers, her opposite hand unbuttoning her pyjama top, exposing her chest to him, and letting it join his shirt on the floor. Gently she leaned against him, pushing him down on the bed. Their lips met again, Mono laying down on his chest, their equally ice-cold skin touching. She pulled away when she heard a quiet sob, staring down at him worriedly.
"D-did I hurt you?"
But he shook his head, staring up at her with a small, wavering smile. "N-no... I... I-I just c-can't... R-remember a t-time I've f-felt so... H-happy..."
She leaned back down, their hands exploring each other's toned upper bodies while his Darkness pulled the covers over them. He shifted closer to her, staring into Mono's eye. Even if it ran with tears, she could still see just how much affection he held for her.
"Y... Y-you m-make... L-living worth it," he cooed. Mono cupped his cheek with her hand, bumping her forehead against his. She found herself praying again that his words didn't hold the meaning she suspected they did.
"... What do you mean...?" She asked softly. He shifted closer, his hand covering hers.
"If... I-if I hadn't met you, I... I-I was a-already thinking a-about it..."
Mono gulped, a lump growing in her throat. "... Y-you would have... K-killed yourself, right?"
His silence and averting his gaze have her the answer she didn't want to hear. Wrapping her arms around his thin, feminine body, she held him close, the couple cuddling in her bed.
Neither of them wanted to let go of the other. And just above them, the shadowy figure seethed with raw, unhidden rage.
...
Salem gasped, breaking into a cold sweat as the memory passed. She could still feel the vivid emotions the First Vao had felt; the crippling terror of losing someone important, the inescapable loneliness, the shame he felt when he finally talked about the things Tyrian did to him, the deep hatred for his own appearance, and the sheer amount of trust and love he felt for Mono. It had been one of the worst feelings she had experienced, paralyzing her body on the spot. She couldn't move a muscle; she could barely breathe. The fact that he hadn't committed suicide by now living like that was nothing short of astounding.
Jasper shivered on her shoulder, burying her face in her knees. Saril had curled up as much as she could and remain standing, the arachne holding herself. Even Sapphire was quiet, the doll's usual smile blown away. The moment the feeling returned to her legs, Salem spun around. "M-Mono...?"
The maid had turned her back to them, her head hung, her hands held over her chest. From the way her shoulders shook like a leaf in a strong breeze, Salem could tell that the memory hadn't just struck an old wound - it had ripped it open, making it fresh again. She stepped closer, reaching her hand out. "M-Mono... I never could have thought-"
"Do not touch me."
The sheer hostility in her wavering voice forced Salem to take a quick step back. Mono shivered, her hands clenching together tightly. The princess could hear her taking a few deep, sharp, shaky breaths, her head finally rising. But she didn't turn around to meet their eyes.
"... I... Need a moment," she hissed. "I will catch up. Proceed on without me for the time being."
Salem was very reluctant to leave Mono. She didn't look okay in the slightest. "Are you sure? We can wait-"
"Go."
The warning was to be heeded. Picking up Sapphire and tugging on Saril's arm, Salem began to make her way down without Mono. She glanced back one last time to see the Cult Leader lower herself to her knees and curl into a ball before they made a turn and stepped out of view, the princess turning her gaze back to the front.
She felt sick. She knew the Blood destroyed people, but that didn't make seeing it any easier. Now that she was seeing the First Vao's forgotten memories, she was beginning to realize just how correct Mono was. His situation was exactly like hers to a T. Just like her, the Blood had taken everything that held meaning to him away. If she, or any of them, had killed him the first time they entered his Reality, they'd have been murderers.
Perhaps what she hated most about this was that Yin wasn't there to make the final decision. He had always been the one everyone looked to for the final choice in these matters. With him absent, it was left to Salem to make that choice. She could feel the almost unbearable pressure weighing on her shoulders, making her wonder how Yin could even stand it. She was deciding the fate of someone's life. She pressed her teeth against her bottom lip, grinding gently.
"... W-we better be able to save you," she growled under her breath.