Chapter one:
A strange robot has come and has suspended Ash and X-ray over what looks like two pits of lava.
Vav is stuck on the top between the two. He glances back to the timer.
Limited time... Only enough time to save one if he picks fast.
Vav looks from Ash to X-ray then back starting to panic. He wants to save both of his friends but he doesn't have time. He closes his eyes and let's his feet take him to one and when he opens his eyes he finds himself going for Ash. He helps Ash up as the claw releases her.
They turn to X-ray who stares in horror at them then before anyone could do anything the claw opens and X-ray drops down to pool below.
"X-ray!" Vav shouts in horror reaching in the direction of X-ray.
The pool splashes upwards as X-ray falls right into it.
Vav, Ash and the crowd that had gathered gasp in horror at this... Until X-ray appears with the top half of his body above the liquid.
"Jello?" X-ray gasps loudly and people all sigh in relief that it is just jello.
Vav and Ash hurry down to X-ray and Vav rushes to hug X-ray when he gets out of the pool with some of the jello still on him.
"You're not dead!" Vav says happily.
However X-ray puts a hand up to stop Vav from coming any closer.
X-ray won't look at him though. "No." He says rather sharply. "But I wish I was dead. It'd be better than being reminded that Vav is no longer my friend." He turns and walks away from them.
"Yeah! Well who needs you!" Vav shouts obviously upset and not thinking straight.
X-ray doesn't even look back as he leaves. He heads off to his apartment and uses a towel to get rid of the jello before laying down on the couch after tossing the towel away. He lays there on his back staring at the ceiling as his memories of him and Vav flashes through his mind.
Until he finally sits up and storms out of the apartment needing to get out and get some air.
He tries to push away the memories that only remind him of Vavs betrayal. "So Ash is more important than me?" He says tears coming to his eyes. "And that I'm not needed?" He stops finding himself in a field and he falls to sit on the grass with his knees up. He takes off his glasses letting one of his hands grip one of the arms of his glasses and crosses his arms so his elbows are on his knees. He rests his chin on one arm so the other covers part of his chin. He cannot hold it in any longer as tears begin to fall down his face.
Strange thoughts begin to float around within his mind. Words he's never said and one of the words he said is repeated as if to mock him mostly all in his own voice while a few things are being said in Vavs voice.
I wish I was dead.
Too dumb.
Yeah! Well who needs you!
Useless!
Just holding me back.
No one can help you.
Immature.
Sidekick.
Finally he stands up throwing his glasses back on only to begin walking his vision still blurred by his tears.
Not realizing it he wanders into the street though luckily on a crosswalk.
Suddenly there is the sound of a loud horn and the sound of something speeding towards him can be heard.
He stops in the middle of the crosswalk and looks up a little quickly in surprise only to find a rather large truck hurtling towards him. He stands there not moving as he watches the truck come towards him. His eyes falling half open as he finally manages to stop crying figuring that if he isn't needed then maybe this is for the best... He's been alone for so long... Then Vav came along... But... It appears he's not needed by his only friend... So... It's better this way... Right...?
Suddenly just before the truck could hit him he is tackled out of the way.
He shuts his eyes tightly at the impact and they fall to the ground with the truck not hitting them. He hears the truck driver shout profanities at them before speeding away.
Hesitantly he opens of his eyes and looks to his saviour who is hovering over him only to blink in surprise upon seeing the Mad King.
"W-why'd you save me?" X-Ray questions him.
"What did you think you were doing?!" The Mad King demands. "You could have died!"
X-ray glances away. "Why would it matter to you? You'd have one less enemy." He points out still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he was saved by the Mad King of all people.
"Not like this. Please not like this." The Mad King says looking rather worried now. "Come with me and we can talk about this."
"I'm confused now." X-ray admits but gets up along with the Mad King to go anyways.
They arrive to the building and X-ray glances around seeing a bit of familiarity from visiting Hilda.
"Come." The Mad King leads him to a section that he's never been to before.
X-ray glances around himself as they walk finding neatly decorated corridors that actually look rather fancy.
"Ah here we go." The Mad King opens up two dark oak wooden doors by just pushing them open letting them remain that way as they enter.
X-ray looks to the room that almost looks like a living space.
There is two black leather couches facing each other on opposite ends of a coffee table, light grey almost white carpeted flooring, a nice window brining in the perfect amount of light and some bookshelves with stuff on it against one of the side walls.
"Please. Let's sit down." The Mad King suggests going back to close the doors.
"Um okay." X-ray heads over to one of the couches and sits down finding that they are rather comfortable.
"This is actually my living room. No one really knows about this place but it remains mine as a founder of this place." The Mad King explains. "So we won't be bothered here." He goes over and sits down next to X-ray. "Now then. Why didn't you move out of the way of that truck?" He asks glancing to the other.
"I... I just couldn't..." X-ray admits.
"It didn't seem like it was fear." The Mad King pointed out.
"It wasn't fear." X-ray confirms. "I was surprised at first... But... Soon I just kind of resigned to my fate as I found that my entire body was stuck in one place. It's really the only way I can describe it."
"Do you know why?" The Mad King asks. "Something must have happened if I'm not mistaken."
X-ray looks away his eyes falling to half open confirming the others suspicions.
"I knew it. Okay." The Mad King moves a little closer to X-ray. "Tell me. What happened. What happened to cause this?"
X-ray hesitates as if not sure he really wants to be talking about this. He blinks as his vision begins to blur as the taunts begin to float around in his mind once more.
"It'll help to get it all out. Don't hold it in." The Mad King tells him.
X-ray closes his eyes then takes off his glasses tossing them to the table.
"X-ray..." The Mad King begins.
"Why?" X-ray hiccups before the Mad King can say another word. "Why?!" His head falls down and a hot tear escapes down his cheek. He struggles to hold back a few sobs as he tries to continue. "I just don't understand."
Suddenly X-ray is being pulled into a hug by the Mad King making him blink in surprise.
"Keep going dear X-ray." The Mad King tells him.
"N-no. Why?" X-ray asks as his mind becomes foggy other than the taunting words floating around in there. He wants to bring his hands up to grip at his hair but he can't as the way the Mad King is hugging him he can't.
"Just trust me on this right now." The Mad King tells him.
At his words X-ray can no longer hold back and tears come like a dam filling up then overflowing.
"I-I was alone for so long!" X-ray sobs to
The Mad King his own shoulders shaking a little. "I never actually had parents and I only got into school because of the government who wanted to give me an education over a home. I was bullied and had no friends. A part of me wanted a friend. A part of me wanted parents so I could experience what it's like." He lets out a hiccup before continuing also stuttering from his sobs. "B-But then Vav came into my life. My first friend." He sniffles. "I-I thought we'd have a long friendship... And we did... But... But some strange robot came... There was what seemed to be pits of lava that me and A-Ash." He stutters on the females name as if wanting to lace it with venom. "Were suspended over... Vav had only time to save one of us... V-Vav saved Ash. Not me. He left me to fall into the pool below me." He lets himself sob a bit before continuing with what he was saying. "L-Luckily it was jello... But still he tried to pretend like it was no big deal... Like he didn't just sacrifice me for... For that girl! Then when I pushed him away he yelled who needs you! N-now... Now the thoughts swirl in my head. I'm so alone. I don't know where to go. I don't know what to do. I-I don't understand why I have to be so alone. I... I... I just feel so lost!" He finishes and lets himself just cry there with the Mad King holding him.
"There there let it all out dear X-ray." The Mad King says and he begins to stroke the others back. "Don't hold any of it in." His petting of X-rays back continues as he listens trying to see if X-ray is saying anything mixed with his sobs but doesn't hear anymore actual words at the moment.
Though as X-ray calms down a little he begins to speak again.
"Oh god the thoughts." X-ray says slightly choking on a dry sob. "They're like voices just in my head."
"What do they tell you?" The Mad King asks.
X-ray sniffles before responding as the dry sobs manage to die down since his body doesn't want to let it continue. "So much... Like how I'm useless. Vavs words of who needs you. My own words when I told him that I wish I was dead... And so much more... That I'm just a sidekick. I'm immature a-and that I'm holding others back..." He wants to cry again but his tears are all dried up so he bites his bottom lip to help himself not choke on dry sobs.
The Mad King keeps him close. "Well you shouldn't listen to them." He tells him.
X-ray sniffles as he glances up to the Mad King eyes red and a little puffy from crying so much.
"Vav doesn't know anything about how much it is him that needs you." The Mad King tells him. "None of them do." He says. "So. How would you like to join me? Here in my kingdom? You're so much more than just some sidekick after all. I can help you."
X-ray blinks and glances down thoughtful for a few moments wondering just what it is that he should do.
