Rose bit her lip, as tears continued to flow from her closed lids, shoulders shaking as the shock rushed through her. He's dead… dead. Drawing in a deep breath she opened her eyes as she began to sit up from her hunched position. It was then she felt that ominous chill return, pricking the hairs on her neck. Eyes wide, she turned bringing a leg up to leap up to defend herself. All she saw was a blur of black, and then she felt her stomach burst in pain as she was impaled by the same sword that stuck down John. She let out a cry before blood rushed up her throat, choking her, and she fell to the ground; her own pool of blood formed, running together with John's. Her body twitched and convulsed as she died slowly, choking on her own blood. Violet eyes stared up at the dark sky, as droplets of black rain began to fall. She gurgled once more then grew limp, her head dropping to the side, blank eyes staring at the corpse beside her. Remnant tears leaked from her lifeless orbs, running across her nose, but they were soon washed away by the rain.

Jack sniffed at the kids' corpses, and once he confirmed his kills, teleported away leaving the bodies in the cold rain. Thunder sounded and black rain fell above the castle as if Skaia herself was grieving for the murdered heroes.

From the deep crimson wound of the Heir, there formed a light that grew and grew in brilliance until it covered his entire body. Slowly, he rose, limp and glowing as his wounds retreated. Streaks of rainbow life-force energy tendriled from his body, illuminating the dark rooftop, and Rose's body with an ethereal brilliance. John's face was relaxed, still closed from Rose's gesture, then his chest expanded and he took in a great, slow breath. His eyes slowly opened, as is waking from a deep slumber, his slack limbs slowly coming to life as his fingers twitched. He exhaled, blowing out a strong wind that sounded across the land. The Heir was alive. The ethereal tendrils receded into him as he floated back down to the ground. His shoes touched the ground softly as he landed, staring blankly outwards for a moment, still waking. Then he shook his head, fully awake now, and brought up his hands to stare at them quizzically.

"I'm…alive?"

He whispered, unbelieving, he was sure he had died. He pressed his hand to his chest and felt around… no blood, no hole, just the same as it had been since his 13th birthday. John turned his eyes from his chest to the ground beside him.

'Rose…'

He stared, then dropped his hand from his chest and turned towards her form. Her eyes, half-lidded, stared blankly forward; blood dribbled from the side of her mouth and from the gaping hole in her stomach, her arms and legs sprawled out like a discarded ragdoll.

John felt sick. A knot twisted in his stomach as he felt a deep sense of grief hit him. This was his second friend to die, and he wasn't there to help them. Granted, that was Jade's dream self but still… he felt himself start to cry and he rubbed his face. How was he supposed to be the "leader "when everyone kept dying around him?! John wiped his face with his shirt, effectively ridding some of the snot that began to dribble from his nose. He slowly walked over to Rose, feet splashing in the puddles of rain and blood. As he knelt by her he heard a sound, her communicator was beeping like crazy. He retrieved it and read the text, wiping his nose again.

It was Vriska.

Scanning through the messages he stared blankly in disbelief yet again at what his eyes beheld. The blue words were telling him if he kissed Rose it would revive her, somewhat. He looked from the communicator to Rose, then back to the communicator. It was as if he was in the middle of some weird fairytale and he was the prince who had to kiss the girl back to life. He looked back to Rose; his mind jumping between Vriska's words, Karkat's shipping chart, and some of his movies. Was his brain short circuiting? because it felt like it. But Vriska continued to insist.

John put the communicator on, and stared at Rose for a bit longer before reaching to hold her body. Her head lolled lifelessly to the side as he cradled her light form. He gulped unconsciously. Having a dead girl be his first kiss was a little weird, not to mention he had just met her in real (?) life, but if it was going to save her…

Shifting his arm, he supported her neck and leaned in close before halting, his face inches from hers. Despite being covered in blood he couldn't help but notice that she was pretty cute. She had a cute button nose, and graceful eyebrows, and her hair was a pretty color, and her lips were-

'Shit, I can't get all nervous now...'

He felt himself blushing a bit, which also felt a little weird because he was kissing a dead girl, and he was in pajamas, and they were both covered in blood and-

John squeezed his eyes shut and leaned forward, pressed his lips to hers.