Cali: Good morning, afternoon, or evening my dear readers. So other than releasing chapter 25 a bit later than I wanted to, you probably will also notice the new book cover I put up. Note I'm pretty new at digital art but right now I'm happy with how it came out. Note that I'll also have a cover for Heartbreak up soon as well, and I might even change the book cover of act II. Also still developing my art style so the coloring on the original heartbreak cover might look different. My rambling aside, things are starting to get interesting, last chapter time travel was mentioned, along with Ichi and Arkan forming a possible alliance, and Nepera and Arfoire spot Digit in Planeptune. Along with the episode preview, what will happen next? Let's wait and see.
Arkan
I was currently sitting atop a boulder reading a book. I was right next to what seemed to be a chasm, and I could hear the roaring of monsters coming from it along with a little bit of swearing. By a little I mean nothing but swearing coming from the voice. I had a screen beside me that showed a face that wasn't too happy. Ichi was fending himself off from a horde of monsters that didn't seem to be letting up.
"How are you doing Ichi?" I asked as I pulled out a book.
"Just…. damnit stay down! Fine!" He yelled back as he kicked something down.
"That's good, we can't have you struggling with the pit now can we?"
"You threw me down a fucking chasm with my arms restrained and sicced a ton of fucking monsters on me, the hell is wrong with you?"
"You're not entirely defenseless you know, maybe you can force them to submit?"
"That's true."
"How about this, if you can get out of there then I'll consider your training complete."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course I am, and I never said it'll be easy." I then hopped off the boulder.
"Hey where are you going?"
"I'm going to go get a drink with Abbadon, I'll see you later."
"Don't you fucking leave me here! How the hell am I supposed to get out of here!?"
"I'll leave a door open." I said with a smirk.
"FUCK YOU!"
"Just get out of the chasm already, what kind of king struggles with lowly monsters?" I said tauntingly as I walked through a door I summoned.
Digit
I sat up in the bed, feeling sore. I rubbed my neck and looked to the right of me. Noire was asleep whilst in her human form, and I blushed as I thought about last night.
"I guess I did go a little crazy…" I muttered to myself, laughing slightly. Noire stirred in her sleep and sat up, leaning on me.
"Mmmnn...morning Digit…" Noire said groggily.
"Last night was pretty crazy huh?" I laughed weakly.
"Yeah, didn't know you'd be that rough with me."
"D-do you really have to say that? That's just going to make the readers think things."
"Let them," I looked down at Noire, the sunlight gave her skin an otherworldly glow.
"Noire…" She sighed happily as she crawled into my lap. I fell back and she nuzzled into my neck.
"Digit,"
"Yeah?"
"This is the place that people tend to go on their honeymoons, that's part of the reason why I chose it." I felt my face heat up and she wrapped her arms around my shoulders.
"I... I see."
"I really enjoyed our date you know,"
"Same here."
"So... are you going to head over to Planeptune?"
"I should, I mean I'm curious of how it's changed over the years. Plus, I'm sure Neptune is wondering when I'm coming by anyways."
"Well, let me know when you're leaving, I want to see you off "
"Thanks Noire." She then kissed my cheek.
"I just want to lay here for a minute if that's okay with you."
"Sure." She nuzzled into her neck as she closed her eyes. I wrapped my arms around her waist as I closed my eyes as well, relaxing.
…
I walked out of the shower, drying my hair with a towel. I stopped when I saw Noire, naked but holding her change of clothes, which I'm not sure where she got it from. She was looking at me whilst smiling, and I felt my face start to grow warm.
"Uh...Noire...why are you in here?"
"Sorry, didn't think you were still in here. But uh, Digit, I have a present for you."
"Really? What is it?" She walked out of the bathroom for a minute, and came back with a pile of neatly folded clothes. She then handed them to me.
"Change into them, I need to know if I need to alter it."
"Uh, Noire."
"Oh, right I'll turn around." I took off my towel and changed into the clothes she handed me. It was a maroon jacket with a grey dress shirt, pale blue jeans, and finally a pair of black tennis shoes.
"Done." She turned around and looked me over.
"How does it feel?"
"It feels amazing. What kind of fabric is it?"
"It actually is some fabric I had synthesized in Lastation, it's quite pricy but it has regenerative properties. It'll mend itself, but it happens over time."
"You sure you should be giving me this? I mean this must be expensive."
"You're worth it." she then kissed my cheek as she walked around me. "It looks like it fits pretty well, if you need it altered be sure to call me alright?"
"Will do, now I'll let you take your shower." I said as I walked past her. I then felt a hand on my shoulder, and I looked back at her.
"Actually, I want you to help me bathe."
"Eh?" She then grabbed me by the wrist.
"You might want to take that off, I don't want you to get your new clothes wet." She looked at me with a seductive smirk on her face.
"N-noire?" She then pulled me towards the shower. "H-hey wait! Let me take these off at least!"
Ichi
I was sent into a wall and I sunk to my knees, struggling with my restraints.
"How dare he leave me down here…" I muttered. I heard something coming towards me and I looked up and saw what seemed to be a gorilla with a malformed face. It roared in my face and it blew some of my hair back. I spat on its face and it seized me by the collar before throwing me aside. I winced as I hit the wall again. I could hear the rest of the monsters...laughing?
They were laughing at me?
I then stood up.
"What the fuck is so funny you pieces of shit?" I said with a glare. I felt energy coursing through me, and I used it to transform. "You cretins are below me, the only funny thing here is thinking I'm going to let you just laugh at me." The gorilla monster ran towards me and I shot him a glare. "Kneel." The gorilla was pushed down with some unseen force. "This training is a fucking waste of time. The moment I was able to access my full form was the moment it was complete. Now!" I raised my voice. "As for the rest of you pieces of shit! You're going to escort me out of here, and if you don't I swear to my fucking self that I'll rip out your innards with a fucking rusted box knife and grill your fucking faces. Do you understand?" My tone had begun to darken and a hush went over the monsters. "I am stronger than Digit, I don't need to be trained for fucking months to get stronger. My pride is my strength, that's why I'm the strongest, and I always will be!" Grimoire then appeared beside me.
"Now you're sounding like a king, though make sure you don't let your pride get out of hand." She said as she leaned on me.
"I am not going to bow to anyone, and no way in hell am I going to let myself be beaten. Now!" I pointed at them, power now coming from my words. "Form up and escort me out of this shithole!" They seemed to be struggling against my words. "That's an order!" I heard the sound of bones cracking before they began moving towards me. Blood came from new wounds on each of them, and they began to create a living staircase. I then smirked. "Now that's more like it." I then began to walk up it, Grimoire following close behind.
First things first, I'm going to find Arkan and kick his ass. Then I'm going to have a chat with the Demon King of Lust.
…
For as deep as the chasm seemed to be, it didn't really take long for us to leave it. I guess I only thought it was super deep because of how long the light was blocked out by the monsters. I took my last steps on the living staircase and I looked back at the monsters. There was fear in their eyes.
"I have no need for you." I said as I opened my hand towards them. "Now die." I heard a collective rumble come from the monsters and I grabbed Grimoire by the wrist. "You don't want to stand in the splash zone."
I heard what sounded like some sort of squelching sound and a crimson geyser came up from the chasm behind us.
"Wow…"
"Grimoire. Umbrella." Grimoire tensed as she created an umbrella from darkness and opened it over us. She stopped and I stopped with her, I could tell she was panting slightly from my command.
"You...don't have to use your words on me like that. I take any order you issue." I merely blinked.
"I see. Well then let's go." We then began to walk towards a door that was left open. I narrowed my eyes. Arkan really did leave a door for us. We got to the door and Grimoire banished her umbrella. It was then that I felt a pain in my chest and I clenched it. I covered my mouth as I coughed up blood.
"Ichi!" Grimoire said as she wrapped her arm around me. My transformation faded and I was back to my human form. I felt weak and I leaned on her for support.
"Looks like there's a limit...tch."
"Maybe to that mode you were in, there was no recoil from when you first went full form."
"I guess all I have to do is practice then huh?"
"If you can master it then you could simply beat Digit without even having to lift a finger. "I smirked at that and I tightened my hold on her.
"Take me to my room."
"Of course, my king." I closed my eyes as we went through the door. I felt the warmth of light on my body and when it faded, my injuries were gone. I stood up straight and looked myself over. Grimoire seemed to be surprised as well.
"What the…?" I then heard footsteps coming in our direction. I saw Arkan with his arm around some girl. She had dark skin, brown eyes and black hair with pink highlights. She seemed uncomfortable in his arm and I walked up to the two of them, separating what seemed to be a drunk Arkan from her.
"Hey! What'shh the big idear?" Arkan said, slurring his words lazily.
"What the fuc- how are you already drunk!?"
"What do yew meeen 'already'? I've been like thishh…"
"Huh?"
"Lookie here…. kid -hic- time is dis-hic-torted in that space, I don't know the -hic- rate...but there…!" He nearly fell on me and I stepped to the side, which resulted in him falling on his face.
"Uh...huh," I then looked to the girl. "You, who are you?"
"E-eh?" The girl straightened up. "M-my name is Numa, D-Demon King of Lust!" I looked her over, she seemed to be slightly taller than me. She wore a black halter top underneath a light grey jacket and wore black shorts with leggings that went from pink to a dark purple. She wore black shoes to complete her outfit.
"Well I guess you look the part." I then looked to Arkan. "You, get lost."
"Huh? The hell are you-"
"Get. Lost." I put some force behind my words and I saw him abruptly turn on his heel and leave. I looked to Grimoire, who bowed before disappearing into thin air.
"D-don't hurt me... "She said as I put my hands on her shoulders.
"I'm not going to hurt you, but tell me. Who are you exactly?"
"I... I'm Numa." She sounded uncertain.
"Something wrong?"
"I've been getting these headaches rece- ngh!" She held the side of her head in pain. I honestly was a little concerned for her...wait...what?
"Are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine…" She lied. "What's your name?"
"Ichi, I'm the Demon King of Pride."
"Ichi…" Her eyes widened at the name and she sank to her knees as she held the sides of her head.
"Numa!"
"It sounds…. familiar…but…" She dug her nails into her hair and I could see that tears were coming from her eyes. "Why…? I've just met you but...I feel like…it...hurts...so much…"
"What the hell is going on?" I said.
"I'd like to know that as well." I looked over and saw Abbadon walking down the hall, and she didn't look too happy to see the two of us.
"I was just talking to her." Abbadon bit her lip as she walked over to Numa and knelt down beside her.
"Numa dear," she said in a gentle voice. "Come now, we'll get you to bed."
"Mama...why does it feel like I know him?" Numa said in a strained voice, looking at Abbadon with a pained expression.
"I'm not sure." Abbadon said behind a smile.
"You're lying." I said with my arms crossed.
"What?"
"You're obviously lying."
"Ichi…" Numa said as she squeezed her eyes shut in pain. "Ichi...Ichi…" Abbadon then stood up and looked at me.
"Tell me what's going on?"
"There's nothing going on." I looked at Numa, then to her.
"Obviously something is going on, she knows me."
"But do you know her?" I looked at her, and for some reason I thought about my brother. I remember Digit having brown eyes and black hair...wait…
"Hey Numa...do you know someone named Digit?"
"Huh…? Yeah I was sent on a mission to try and capture him...but he seemed to recognize me." I then put my hand under my chin.
Digit doesn't seem to remember me...but.
"Does the term 'Birthday Crown' sound familiar to you?"
"I forgot to make one this year!" Numa suddenly straightened up and we looked at each other in dead silence. Abbadon's face was pale as she looked between us.
"What…. the…. fuck...No... this can't be happening…" I fell to my knees. "You...there's no way...there's just no fucking way."
"Ichi…?" The look in her eyes had changed now. "Birthday Crown…that's right…" She then walked towards me. I saw Abbadon's hand on Numa's wrist as she walked towards me.
"Wh-what the fuck is going on...?" I said with a shaking voice. For the first time of my life I didn't know what to think of what was in front of me. Abbadon was well rooted in the ground, but Numa looked back at her with a sincere look on her face and pried her hand from her wrist. She walked towards me and I felt a fear rising in me. I wanted to run, but at the same time. She knelt down in front of me and put my head on her chest.
"It's okay...little brother." My eyes widened in horror at that moment.
"No!" I fell back and she looked at me in surprise. "No no no! This is wrong! All wrong!"
"Huh? What do you mean? You don't remember me?"
"I have an older brother! You're obviously...you're not Digit!"
"But Ichi…"
"No buts! I don't have a sister! I only have an older brother who abandoned me!"
"Ichi...I remember you…" I scooted away from her and held the sides of my head.
"No! No! No! NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo!" I kept repeating it. I couldn't believe this; I can't believe this! There's no fucking way!
"Ichi...please...let me explain…" She reached out towards me and I recoiled. She had a hurt expression on her face as her hand retreated.
"Numa," Abbadon put a hand on her shoulder and she looked back at her.
"My name is Digit." She said sternly. Abbadon seemed shocked by this.
"I was afraid of this…" She muttered, I barely picked it up. I transformed and grabbed her by the collar, slamming her into the wall.
"You! YOU!" I yelled in her face, my eyes blazing. "What the fuck is this!? Is this your sick idea of a joke!? Huh!? Huh!?" I slammed her in the wall so that there was an outline of her body on it. She winced in pain and she put her hands on mine.
"I... didn't want this to happen." She said in a pained voice.
"Tell me! What the fuck is this? I have a brother, not a sister!"
"That is who you grew up with." I looked at her like she was stupid. I heard people running down the hall towards us.
" .Now!"
"Ichi...please...calm down."
"Explain. Now!" I felt some unseen force push her deeper in the wall. She coughed out some blood and I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked over my shoulder and saw a man with bright red hair and eyes. He was pretty buff, and he was wearing a white shirt with green cargo pants.
"Let her go."
"Well don't you look like a stereotypical douchebag."
"You trying to pick a fight with me?"
"Am I?"
"You little-" He pulled his arm back and he was stopped by the person behind him. "What the? Freed let me go!"
"Now now, we don't want a mess in the hallway."
"Tch..." He freed himself from the man's grip. The man had blue eyes, blonde hair and glasses. He adjusted his glasses as he looked at me.
"Say one thing and I'll slaughter the both of you." I said with cold eyes.
"That's it! Let's go you piece of shit!" The man with red hair roared and he was enveloped in red energy. He seemed to take on a more bestial form, and gained a karate gi.
"Oh hey, look it's Simba." I taunted as I released Abbadon, who fell to the floor, coughing.
"I'm not fucking Simba!" He flew towards me and slashed at me. I easily sidestepped and smirked.
"Oh yeah? Why do you have claws then?"
"Fuck you!" He turned and slashed at me. I leaned back slightly, just out of reach of his claws. I then summoned Grimoire and slashed at his wrist. He screamed in pain and charged at me.
"Calm down Krest! This isn't how you fight!" I heard the man yell. I stepped to the side and stabbed him in the back of his leg. He screamed in pain once again and I chuckled.
"Grimoire, restrain him please." Dark chains erupted from my blade and wrapped him up. I then walked in front of him and knelt down.
"You piece of shi-"
"Now now kitty cat, language." I said whilst waggling a finger in front of him. "Listen up." My tone darkened as my eyes began to glow. "You work for me, no one else. Got it?" He struggled in his restraints as a force seemed to try to force him to speak.
"Y…...e….s."
"I'm your king, and you're not allowed to betray me, got it?"
"Y…...e...ss...ir…"
"Good." I then kicked him in the face and the chains dispersed. He held his hands over his face and curled up as he screamed. "Now, do you have any problems with me?" I looked in Freed's direction. He shook his head. "Good, now know that you work for me and only for me." Freed tensed up.
"Yes sir." I smirked, that was easy.
"Ichi...this is wrong." Numa walked over to me. I backed away from her.
"Leave me the fuck alone."
"You're abusing your power to subjugate those under you. This isn't you Ichi. I treated my little brother as a king, but you're a tyrant-"
"KNEEL!" Numa was slammed into the ground by an unseen force and her face was against the ground whilst she was supporting herself with her arms. There was a visible impact on the ground where she was forced to kneel. "You are not Digit! How fucking dare you. Claiming that you are someone you are not…. how fucking dare you!" I screamed.
"I…. chi…. please…. let me explain…" She strained herself.
"There's nothing to explain! You are not Digit!"
"LET ME EXPLAIN YOU BRAT!" She yelled. I was taken aback by her response.
"Wh-what…"
"I expected you to be a decent person at this point in your life...but what happened to you? Did hate fester in your heart over these years? I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you but-"
"KNEEL!" a shockwave hit her again.
"The fact you're telling me only kneel just tells me that you know this is true, but you don't want to accept it."
"KNEEL! KNEEL KNEEL KNEEL KNEEL KNEEL!" a barrage of shockwaves forced her down.
"If you didn't believe me you'd command me to kill myself!" She looked up at me slowly, blood coming down from her forehead. " Ichi, accept it; the Digit you knew wasn't your brother, but your sister!"
"You're wrong! You're wrong you're wrong you're wrong!" I felt tears coming down my face as I shook my head furiously. "Just die! Kill yourself." I felt her body jerk as she struggled against my command. "I said kill yourself."
"Ichi...you don't want this…"
"I said kill yourself!"
"You don't want to lose your only family."
"Kill yourself!"
"Ichi…"
"Kill yourself!"
"That's enough!" I heard Grimoire say from behind me. I turned around and she didn't look like she's too happy with me.
"Grimoire…"
"You two are obviously hurt, and I'm not going to let you hurt yourself like this. You know deep down that this is Digit. The Digit everyone knows isn't related to you. Quit lying to yourself like this. It hurts to see this, so just accept it."
"How dare you try and order me around-"
SLAP!
I felt a stinging sensation on my cheek and I looked back to see Numa there.
"That's enough Ichi." She had a stern look on her face and I simply looked at her, tears still falling down my face. She then buried my face in her chest and kept me in a tight embrace. "I know I've been gone for so long...and I'm sorry I ever forgot about you. But I'm here now, and I want to make up for lost time. I know I have some explaining to do, and I'm willing to use as much time as it takes for you to understand why I pretended to be a guy for all these years."
"..."
"It's okay, cry all you want...I'm here." I buried my face further into her chest and cried, my tears staining her shirt. "Leave." I heard her say to the others. I heard footsteps travel from our direction and I felt her fall backwards, landing on her back. I looked up at her in horror and she had her eyes closed with a smile on her face.
"Digit...Digit...DIGIT!" I said, shaking her several times after every word. "No... please! Don't leave me...please!" I felt Grimoire's hand on my shoulder.
"Let's get her to her room, she'll be fine."
"But…"
"Ichi, she'll be fine." She said in a comforting tone.
Digit
I was back in my new clothes and Noire had put on a three-piece dress that had a white heart shaped chest covering, a black lace less corset, a white skirt, and a dark blue half-jacket. She had two blue ribbons in her hair.
"Should I tie my hair up?" She asked, walking up to me.
"Well I think you'll look good with long or tied hair."
"Really? Well then, I think I'll save these for later." She put it in the pocket of her jacket. She then linked arms with me and smiled.
"I think I should head to Planeptune."
"Do you do this with the other girls?" She looked at me with a playful grin.
"Huh?"
"You go on a date with them, fuck them, and then leave the next morning."
"Hey I haven't slept with every goddess...and blame the writer!"
"Writer?"
"Yeah, they're right there!" I pointed to Cali, who was sitting on our bed.
"Wh-when did she get in here!?"
"I get around." The writer's avatar said.
"Why are you here?" I asked.
"Think it should go without saying that something interesting is going to happen soon."
"What exactly?" Cali then leaned back and grinned slightly.
"If I told you there would be no fun for our readers now would there?"
"You know, you're like the Cheshire cat."
"Ooh, that gives me an idea." Her appearance changed to that of a woman with half lilac and half dark purple hair, and she donned a half lilac and half dark purple outfit. She gained cat ears to match her color scheme, and finally, a striped tail that also matched her new colors.
"You really have to take it literally." She then shrugged nonchalantly.
"It's fun to have a self-insert like this from time to time, while this isn't an accurate representation of a male author, I still think that I should be able to come in and have my own kind of fun. Also I was making sure things were in place for the future. Also you two, know that I was watching." She winked and Noire and I's face went red.
"Wh-Wha…"
"If I do an uncensored version of the scene, I have it down to the very detail huhu…"
"Her demeanor changed…" She then laid down on thin air, her head propped up on her elbows. She kicked the air idly.
"Or I always could put it in Heartbreak OVAs"
"Heartbreak...OVAs?"
"I forgot you're not at that level of meta yet. You will learn though young padawan." She floated over to me and poked my nose. I took a step back and she giggled. She seemed to have a constant smile on her face since her transformation. "I just came to check on you two, I now shall bid you two, adieu." She did a dramatic bow and her image turned into a spiral before disappearing.
"Who...was she?" Noire asked as she looked up at me.
"The avatar of the writer."
"The writer….?"
"Yeah…."
"I... don't want to know. Anyways, let's...get going…"
"I could leave now actually." I took both of her hands into mine and we faced each other.
"What...?"
"I kind of have this ability to teleport...I think I might have a little bit of an idea of how it works...so." Noire leaned forward and we shared a kiss.
"Be safe."
"I will." I tightened my grip on her hands before I closed my eyes.
Come on….
Planeptune…
…..
…..
…..
Anything?
It usually….
01010000 01101100 01100001 01101110 01100101 01110000 01110100 01110101 01101110 01100101
There we go.
I felt my body begin to glow and I opened my eyes. Noire looked at me in surprise and I let go of her hands.
"I'll see you around Noire." She then put her hands behind her back and smiled.
"Right."
The light then flooded my vision.
…
I felt myself falling through the air, but this time, I was prepared.
I opened my eyes and had my arms and legs outstretched.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" I yelled as I closed my eyes. I felt energy coursing through me as I transformed and I nosedived. I felt the wind through my hair as I flew between the tall buildings of the metropolis, doing aileron rolls and other flying tricks as I laughed. I was enjoying the freedom of flying around, but then I felt a sensation go through my chest. I stopped abruptly and I looked down, seeing a lilac dot along with a black one. I landed near the location, luckily behind a bush. I peeked out the side and I saw Neptune laughing with…
Him…
I clenched my fist. My doppelganger was here?
"That was a fun date huh?" My doppelganger said.
"Yeah, I never knew you were so good at those arcade games. You must have had a blast with Vert."
"Vert? Yeah I won her everything there."
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Nothing, nothing." I crept from behind the bush, daring to show myself in Neptune's line of sight. She caught my eye and I nodded to her. She had a shocked expression. But nodded back to me and I dove behind another shrub.
"What were you looking at? You nodded to something."
"Huh? Did I?"
"Yeah, you did."
"Sorry, I thought someone nodded to me, so I nodded back to them."
"Really?" They stopped and walked into an alleyway. I flew up the side of the building and looked down to them.
"So since we finished dinner, we should move onto dessert."
"In an alleyway? Digit sweetie, this is unlike you."
"What can I say? After Plutia, I got a little...adventurous."
"Plutia? You slept with her?"
"Yeah, made her scream my name the whole night."
"..." He then began to kiss Neptune's neck. I clenched my fist, but kept still.
"Digit...please."
"You know I crave you Neptune, come on."
"I'm a government official, I can't just."
"What'll it hurt? No one's gonna see us here."
"Digit, this isn't like you at all, are you okay?"
"I've always been like this." He then slid a hand down to her thigh.
"I can't do this; this just will make me uncomfortable-"
"Look we're going to fuck here and that's final." He said as he grabbed her wrist tightly.
"Even if you are Digit know that you're messing with a CPU." She glared at him. I then jumped down and landed in the alleyway. He looked in my direction.
"What do we have here?"
"I didn't expect for you to get here. What's the matter? Having an issue getting into Neptune's pants? It's because she knows you're a fake. Trust me, I don't act like that. Also not going to stand here and see you try to violate her, none of the readers want to see that. Though you'd probably get your ass kicked by her most likely." I said with a smirk.
"I wouldn't be so sure." I saw black electricity surge through his body and he tightened his grip on Neptune. She winced in pain and tried to remove his grip from her, and it seemed to be draining her energy. Neptune transformed into Shadow Heart and tried to free herself, but he threw her aside, sending her into a dumpster as she reverted back to her human form.
"Neptune!"
"Well since I couldn't score, I might as well subdue you for Abbadon."
"Abbadon...she sent you?" I narrowed my eyes.
"Who else? I was sent here to eliminate Neptune."
"Abbadon…. she's the reason why...you...with my face...you were going to do things with her...you went and hurt her…" I walked towards him, my blood boiling. He smirked.
"Careful now, you're going to be defenseless as soon as you let those emotions overtake you." I looked around me and saw a dark miasma around me. I made a knife out of darkness and stabbed my leg. I grit my teeth as I remembered the last time I went out of control, the image of Croire flashed through my mind.
Croire…. I'm going to save you, no matter what.
The miasma gathered in my body and erupted into a pillar of dark energy. My jacket changed to a tattered dark grey jacket with a maroon torn up dress shirt, my pants were black damaged slacks, and my shoes were dull brown dress shoes. My hair became less spiky, and my eyelashes got longer and darker, as if someone put mascara on my eyes.
"..."
"... I'm honestly surprised right now." My doppelganger said. "You took those negative emotions and controlled them."
"..."
"What's the matter edge lord? Are you too edgy to speak?"
"You know." I said in a calm, but obviously malice filled voice as I looked at him with half lidded eyes. My voice was quiet, but obviously you know that things weren't going to end well for him now. "There's a lot of things that I'll forgive, but if there's one thing I won't tolerate, that's hurting my loved ones." I then walked towards him slowly, summoning the broken part of Croire, there was only up to the hilt that was actually her, but the rest of the blade was made out of a black energy that mimicked the rest of her shape. "I'm going to tear you apart."
"Di…. git.." I heard a weak voice in my head.
"Croire?" I stopped in my tracks, my eyes wide with surprise.
"I never thought I'd hear your voice again…"
"Croire! How are you feeling?"
"I don't know how long I can keep talking...but please...save me…"
"How? Tell me how I can save you! I'll do it!"
"Inverse…"
"Inverse…? What do you mean? Croire? Croire!?"
"Talking to yourself isn't going to help you." I dashed towards him and we crossed blades. He was using…. what the fuck? He grinned and he seemed to be using a dragonic version of Croire. I blinked in disbelief as he forced me back.
"How…"
"That's not the only thing I can do." A pillar of light erupted from beneath him and he resembled my transformed state, but he had scales on the side of his face, his skin was paler, his sclera turned black, and he had black veins that were also on the sides of his face. His outfit was tattered as well, and he had a pair of dragon horns coming from his head, a pair of dragon wings were coming from his back, and he had a tail.
"What the hell…?"
"Like it? I didn't at first, but then I realized the power I had obtained, who would've thought of putting scales of Vira's dragon in me. I feel so much power coursing through my veins. Taking you down will be child's play."
"Don't look down on me you bastard." I dashed towards him and he slashed at my chest. I intercepted it with my sword and then felt a slash in my back. I fell to the floor and got back up, feeling a stinging sensation in my back. "And who the hell is Vira?"
"Look down at you? Well I have no choice but to in this case. I thought you were supposed to be fast." I got to my feet. "If you can't even block a hit from me, I'm going to have my way with Neptune. Hell if you get killed by me, I won't tell you who Vira is."
"You…little…" My eyes widened.
"That's it, get angry. The angrier you get the easier it'll be for me to take over."
"As if I'll surrender my body to you. I'll fucking-"
"I guess after I fuck her brains out I'll kill her in front of Planeptune on live TV." He then walked over to Neptune's limp form. "Or I could do it now, in front of the man she loves."
"Don't you lay a fucking finger on her!" I got to my feet and ran towards him. I felt more dark energy gather around me and flood into me. I jumped and clashed blades with him, and I heard a metal CLANG! I blinked in surprise and it looked like… there was more of Croire? What? I jumped back and slashed at him. I then smirked. I think I get it now.
Inverse
That must be the state I'm in now. I clenched a fist. It feels like my CPU form, but different. I can feel my negative emotions more prominently. I can feel them stirring in my heart. I closed my eyes. If I go too far deep, I'll go on a rampage, but if this is the only way for me to reach Croire.
I opened my eyes and saw my doppelganger rushing at me. I clashed blades with him and jumped over him, then stabbed him in the back. It cut into...scales? He slid across the ground and looked over his shoulder as he smirked.
"Surprised? Dark dragon scales aren't that easy to puncture you know. Even if you are using her, if it's not her full form you have no choice but to give up." He flew towards me and slammed the pommel of his sword into my stomach. I flew into the dumpster and landed beside Neptune. "Maybe I should put you through pain so unbearable you'll become an emotionless doll? I mean Abbadon says she wants you to herself, but maybe I can just hand her the body." He slammed his blade into my stomach and I screamed. Blood spattered out of my wound and I coughed out blood. He put his foot on his blade and dug it in deeper.
This bastard…
I'm not going to die, but I'm sure as hell not going to let him lay a hand on her.
Until my soul is ripped from my immortal body, I'm not going to hand her over to anybody….
No one…!
I squeezed my eyes shut and I felt myself falling into darkness. I opened my eyes and found that I was in a familiar body of water. I felt a pain in my chest, right where I was stabbed. I looked around and saw a silhouette of a person in the distance. I flew over to it, as strange as that sounds.
"Cr... Croire!" I saw her unconscious form floating in the water. She seemed to be flickering in and out, and she slowly opened her eyes, blinking them as she turned her head towards me.
"Digit…?"
"Croire, I'm here...you're…" I said while I held her hand in both of mine.
"You...inversed...for me."
"Of course I did, you're my precious partner. I didn't forget about you."
"I'm glad…" I then saw tears in her eyes.
"Croire?"
"Digit...I've been holding on...but I don't think I can anymore…"
"What are you saying?"
"I don't...I don't want to disappear...Digit...in all my years...never have I been afraid. I won't experience death...I'll fade from existence…"
"No!"
"I'm glad that I saved you… and I don't regret it...but I'm scared…"
"You're not going anywhere!" I squeezed her hand tightly. "You're like this because I was weak…" I grit my teeth and looked down, my bangs obscuring my face. I felt tears going down the side of my face.
"Digit...I... love you…"
"No!" She looked at me shocked. "I'm not going to let you fade away...I don't want to ever feel helpless again...I have power! I'm going to use it to protect those I care about!" I closed my eyes, putting my face on my hands. "Croire!" I yelled. "We're going back home together!"
"Digit…" She was taken aback. She then smiled. "Right...let's go home together." I gripped her hand so tight that my knuckles turned white. A light appeared inside our hands. "Digit...the light...it feels so warm…"
"I'm not losing another person...not ever…!" The light grew brighter and brighter until it blinded the two of us. I closed my eyes as it flooded my vision.
"Come on! Scream some more!" I heard my doppelganger say.
"Digit! Digit!" I heard Neptune shaking me.
"Quiet you!"
THUD!
STAB!
"What the fuc…." My doppelganger looked down at his chest and saw a blade that had gone through it.
"Digit…"
"You dare to lay a hand on Neptune?" I felt the darkness leave my heart and go into the blade.
"I'll hold onto these, it's not healthy for you to be like that for too long."
"Croire...thanks."
"It's good to be back. Now act like yourself alright?"
"Right."
"Digit...you're talking to yourself." Neptune looked at me with concern. I looked to her and smiled widely.
"Yeah...I am, and for once I'm relieved I have a voice in my head." I then looked to my doppelganger. "Alright, now let's do this."
"Tch...so she's back. I thought I killed you."
"Yeah, well I have a tendency to pull of miracles, so she's not dead." I looked down to Croire's sword form and it looked like it had evolved. I then smiled as I closed my eyes. "Our bond evolved didn't it?"
"Yeah...I feel different now...but in a good way."
"Digit…." Neptune said.
"We have an audience Croire, let's give them a show."
"Let's."
"A show?" My doppelganger said as he clutched his chest.
"There's also the readers, so let's get this show on the road." I then outstretched my arms and flashed a big smile as a spotlight shined on me. " LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! It's been a bumpy ride so far. But I hope I will be able to keep your attention for a bit longer."
"What are you doing!?" I then turned towards him and smiled. "Why are you smiling!?"
"Because the show is just getting started!"
"This isn't a game; this is real life!"
"But life is the best show of all, now if you'd be so kind, let's resume our fight."
"Don't have to tell me twice!" He ran at me and I sidestepped, spinning on my heel. He seemed dazed and swung at me, I flipped and landed on his sword before jumping high in the air.
"Ah,ah, ah." I wiggled my finger at him as I set Croire on my shoulder. "Be more precise with your attacks, you'll bore the audience by being predictable.
"Tch..." I jumped off his blade and he flew towards me. I dodged a few of his strikes before blocking one with Croire. He forced me away and I almost crashed into a building, but I landed on the side of it using my feet, then kicked off of it and flew towards him. We flew past each other and slashed at each other, both scoring a hit on each other. I put my hand on my arm as I floated in the air. He dashed towards me again and this time I was too slow to block, scoring a strike on my chest.
"Nice one, but don't expect to get too many of tho-"
SLASH!
He slashed my side and kicked me, sending me hurtling through the air. I forced myself to stop before crashing into a building and held my side.
"Quit talking and just fight. Your production value sucks so amp it up if you're going to do that bullshit." I then smiled. I then outstretched my hand.
"Don't worry ladies and gents! The fun's just getting started!" I then snapped.
Several glyphs appeared around him. He looked around at each one.
"What is this?" I then flew high into the air, summoning a glyph to land on.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! It's now time for our grand finale!" I felt like the whole city may have been watching me. I closed my eyes for a moment, simply taking in the good feeling I had. The wind blew through my hair, knowing that I was entertaining people with our fight...it felt good. I felt warm in my chest. I then leaned forward, falling off the glyph. I felt a flame over my chest, I then opened my eyes. "Ichi...if you can hear me, lend me your strength again. Let the dragon that we share awaken! LADIES AND GENTS! I PRESENT!" I grabbed the flame into my free hand and threw it towards my doppelganger. "HELIOS, THE INFERNAL DRAGON!" the fireball twisted and expanded, revealing the silhouette of a dragon inside.
"PERCIVAL! TO ARMS!" my doppelganger summoned a magic circle and Percival came out of it. The two dragons clashed in the sky, sending a shockwave that was visible in the sky.
"Sorry, not this time." I winked as I made a gun gesture with my hand. "Helios! Infernal Fist!" Helios brought back its gauntlet arm and clenched a fist. Flames danced around its hand and it slammed it into Percival's stomach. Streams of fire erupted from the strike point and Percival was sent flying through the air. "Don't let him hit any buildings Helios!" Helios shot after Percival like a bullet, upper cutting it through the jaw as they flew past buildings. I flew after the two, my doppelganger coming after me.
I saw the best thing ever.
Helios grabbed Percival as it was descending and literally suplexed him. I heard "JOHN CENA" in the background before Helios did another Infernal Fist in its face before roaring.
"Percival! Get up!
"Oh snap! Percival got wrecked! Finish him off Helios!" Helios dragged Percival up by the neck and flung him into the air. Helios got into a stance and crouched, flames gathering around him as he spread his wings. "Do it!" he quickly amassed heat over several minutes, I looked at Percival, who was too dazed to seem to respond quick enough. Helios shot from the ground, a part of the parking lot had been liquefied by the heat he collected. He became bathed in fire and it became impossible to see him, though he was now a flame in the shape of his body. He shot right through Percival before dispersing the flames and roaring. And as ridiculous as it sounds, Percival exploded into fireworks. Without a second thought I slashed at my doppelganger horizontally. He coughed out blood before he fell through the air. I then put Croire on my shoulder.
"Wow, that was unexpected."
"Hey our fight never ended. And also, that was a thing." I looked up at Helios. "Dismissed." Helios dissolved into flames and I looked down at the city. I then bowed.
"So what now? Should we grab your doppelganger?"
"Probably but, I feel like whoever he works for already has him picked up right now. For now, let's meet back up with Neptune."
"Are you okay? I mean he just tried to kill- er take your body really. You don't die. You sure you just want to let someone like that go?"
"I might be relaxed about it right now since I have my trusty partner back, but that's what my gut is telling me right now. Plus, I'm back home, so why not see the city?"
"Honestly, you are too relaxed...but fine." I laughed as I flew in the direction of Neptune.
Ichi
I was sitting beside Digit's bed, holding her hand tightly. I can't believe this…
I just...I can't…
I almost killed the only family I have.
All because I didn't want to believe her…
I had been sitting here for hours, and I'm glad she only fell unconscious. Grimoire had put her in her pajamas and would pop up to give her medicine every once in a while.
"Digit…" I said. She stirred in her sleep and her eyes fluttered open, and looked over to me.
"Ichi…" She smiled. I hugged her and she seemed surprised, then wrapped her arms around me.
"I don't understand, this whole time you were my sister?"
"Yeah."
"But why? Why pretend to be something you're not?"
"Well, when I was younger sometimes people would mistake me for a boy if I had my hair cut short. But I was talking to my friends at school about what I should do since our parents passed. We all came to the conclusion that I should act as a sort of parental figure towards you, so I pretended to be your older brother."
"...Well I guess that explains why we never bathed together." Digit chuckled at that and patted my head.
"Though, even though I'm Digit...I'm not sure who that another Digit is."
"There's two other Digits you know."
"Wow, really?"
"Yeah, the other one has a doppelganger."
"Who is he then…"
"I'm curious though, where does your memory end?" I asked as I pulled away from her.
"Huh?"
"The other Digit didn't seem to recognize me. So I'm wondering how far your memory goes."
"Hmm...I think the last thing I remember...is a clinic? Things get fuzzy from there…"
"A clinic huh…? Well I guess if we want to figure out what happened we need to ask the other Digit."
The thing is though. Now that I know the Digit I grew up with.
Do I really have a reason to take down the other Digit?
I made him the object of my frustrations, and now that I see I was wrong what am I going to do from here?
"Ichi,"
"Huh?"
"I don't want you forcing people to do things against their will, alright?"
"But-"
"No buts, you're 17 years old. You can't be doing stuff like that."
"..."
Digit then sat up and I reached out to try and stop her. She raised her hand.
"It's fine, I feel better now. Although I think I should be allowed to change in peace." I nodded and walked out of the room. I leaned against the wall as I closed my eyes. I felt someone lean on me and I looked to my right to see Grimoire.
"You really aren't a bad person deep down."
"..."
"If only people would see this side of you."
"I don't want people to see this side of me."
"Why not? People just think you're a self-centered asshole." I then smirked.
"Let them."
"Huh?"
"The thing is, if Digit does something people brush it off because he's the hero of Gamindustri, a nice guy. A whole fucking slew of celebrity shit behind him. People will keep an eye on me because I'm an asshole. It's my way of protecting myself."
"Ichi…"
"If I let people know I'm actually a good person then that's one thing. But I don't need people seeing my weaker side."
"I see, so is the whole 'being a self-centered arrogant asshole' an act?"
"Nah." I then put my arms behind my head and leaned back. "But I know because of my personality people will hold me more accountable because of it." I then heard the door open. Digit walked out wearing a black and white outfit.
"Alright." She said.
"What now?"
"...I want to talk to Abbadon."
"Are you sure?"
"I want to know why I was under that…. whatever you call it."
"I see, but what about the other Digit?"
"Honestly what about him?"
"Huh?"
"He has nothing to do with me."
"But he's some fake running around with your name!"
"It doesn't matter."
"Why doesn't it matter?"
"He's the one who freed Gamindustri from Arkan..." She then held the side of her head. She winced and I held a hand out towards her. She held her hand up in defense. "I'm fine...though, now I'm not so sure about that…"
"What do you mean?"
"I... remember more…"
"About?"
"..."
"Digit?"
"I want to talk to Abbadon."
"But-"
"I'm going." She walked past me and Grimoire and I looked after her.
"Digit."
She then stopped and looked back at me.
"I want to see her. You're welcome to follow me."
"..." I simply blinked after her as I followed close behind.
Digit(Male)
I was at what seemed to be the Basilicom of Planeptune. This huge tower that overlooked the city...is this really the Basilicom?
I thought back to the castle that Shadow Heart had owned. I was glad that Planeptune was a proper city...and not a giant ruin. It was late at night and the streetlights and lights from stores illuminated the darkness. I walked to the front doors and they opened automatically. I was in what seemed to be an office lobby. There were some people who were walking across the floor, some pushing carts with office equipment, others were carrying papers.
"This...wasn't this twelv-"
Error!
I felt a sharp pain in my head and I sunk to my knees.
"Digit!"
Conflicted Memory Found.
"Conflicted memory… When I was thirteen...didn't -" I winced and held the sides of my head as the pain increased drastically.
"Digit, are you okay?"
I struggled to my feet and looked up. Some of the Basilicom employees looked at me and I smiled, laughing weakly. I went to the reception desk where I was greeted with a brown haired woman with a warm smile.
"Can I help you?"
"I want to see the CPU, Neptune."
"May I ask who is requesting this audience?"
"Digit."
"Digit!? Well then, I'll let her know you're here." She then picked up a phone and set it on her shoulder. "Hello? Ms. Neptune? Digit's here." She then began typing on her computer. " Uh-huh, alright. Sure thing."
"So?"
"Simply go in the elevator over that way, Ms. Neptune is going to be calling the elevator up to her floor."
"Thank you."
"It's nothing." I then walked towards the elevator.
"Digit, are you going to be okay?"
"I'll be fine." I then walked into the elevator and the doors closed behind me. I heard the doors close and it began to ascend. "Doesn't this seem like…?" I muttered under my breath as I tried to remember.
Error! Stray memory accessed, purging…
"Purge?" I sank to my knees and screamed as an intense pain ran through my body.
"Digit!" I squeezed my eyes shut in pain and I felt someone hug me tightly. I dug my nails through my hair and clenched my teeth.
"It hurts…" I could feel blood on my nails. It felt like my head was about to split open.
"It's okay, I'm here." Croire said as she pushed my face into her chest. I felt tears coming out of my face.
Purge complete.
The intense pain began to fade, becoming a dull pain. I panted heavily, standing up slowly, Croire stood up with me.
"..."
"Digit?"
"I'm fine." I rubbed my temples then heard a ding! The doors opened and I walked out, almost falling over. Croire had prevented my fall and now that I got a better look at her, she seems...different. She had blonde cat ears and tail for whatever reason. Her robe was also different, having exposed shoulders and having matching leggings this time.
"You okay Digit? You're looking at me funny."
"You look different."
"I do?" her ears seemed to twitch as she spoke. I heard a door open and saw a girl with lilac hair walk into the hallway. She was wearing a set of lilac pajamas and she had a nightcap on.
"Digit!" she said as she jumped towards me. I caught her and we spun around a bit, laughing as we did so. "I missed you."
"It hasn't been that long since we last saw each other, right?"
"It's been several chapters." we both laughed, then Neptune looked at Croire. "Who's this?"
"This is my partner Croire." Croire shook Neptune's hand.
"Partner?" Neptune narrowed her eyes as she looked at me. The sharp look in her eyes made me think of the eyes she had when I first met her.
"N-Not like that!" I took a step back, waving my arms frantically. "Show her Croire." Croire closed her eyes and began to glow, then turned into her sword form. I grabbed the sword and Neptune seemed to be surprised.
"Ok, guess I get it now."
"Anyways, how've you been Neptune?"
"I've been fine, and you?"
"Uh, well let's just say a lot has happened since we last met."
"I'd agree on that," I heard a woman's voice. I looked for the source of the voice, and I saw a woman with long lilac hair tied in a ponytail sitting on thin air in the hallway.
"Who-"
"It's our first time meeting Digit," She then looked to Neptune. "And it's been a while, Nep." Neptune blinked, then had a confused look on her face.
"Wait," She began. "Are you...Nepera?" The woman nodded.
"Who's Nepera?"
"My baby sister, but...how? You're...older...a lot older."
"Well, having access to Yggdrasil will do that to a person." She then looked to me. "I'll need to talk to you later, there's some things I want to discuss with you."
"Huh? Uh alright. If you're in Yggdrasil, then you know what's been going on?"
"Yes, and there's some things that have been worrying me recently. I also know of your recent run in with your doppelganger, are you sure you should have let him go?"
"Well, what would I do if I took him in after beating him? It's not like I have any place to imprison him."
"That's true, but I can only imagine what your mistake might entail…"
Peashy
I was laying down in my bed, my face on a pillow. It felt like I hadn't seen Digit in forever, since I became the CPU I had lots of work I had to do. I couldn't do a lot of it without help from Cave or some of the kids because there would be too many big words. But as I was stuck with stupid po...politics? I could only think about Digit.
He's the only reason that I am even here, because of him...I was able to become something.
The child that was thrown away, went through the pain needed to become a CPU…
Amber Heart, the CPU of Edonia.
Thinking about it made me smile. I heard a knock on my door and I sat up slowly, dressed in my pajamas. A woman with braided white hair and green eyes walked in.
"Amber Heart, we have an incoming call for you."
"Who?"
"It's Digit." My eyes widened.
"Digit!? Are you sure?"
"Yes, and he sounds like he's in pain. He's requesting to talk to you."
"Bring me the phone." The woman nodded and ran out into the hallway. I neatened my hair and sat up on the edge of my bed. Digit? In pain? I wonder what happened. I mean I like how he's calling after so long... but what happened to him? I mean to call me when I'm probably really far away from him means he must be desperate. I heard the door open and the woman came back with a cell phone. She handed it to me. "Hello?"
"Pea...shy…" I heard his pained voice from the other side of the phone.
"Digit!"
"Thank god...you answered."
"Where are you? What happened to you?"
"Planeptune...a doppelganger and the CPU got me...I don't think I'll make it."
"Digit…" I clenched a fist and bit my lip. "What CPU was it?"
"Her name is Shadow Heart, Neptune. The CPU of Planeptune."
"Ok, I'll take care of her and we'll get you patched up."
"What? No... you can't…. ugh!"
"Digit!?"
"I'm...fine...you can't take her on. That doppelganger and her will just double team you. Or she could get help from the other CPUs… they're convinced that doppelganger is the real me. I didn't know who else to turn to…" I could hear him choking up on his words. I bet tears were falling down his face.
"I don't care. I'll take each one of them down."
"Very well." I heard a woman's voice from the other side of the phone. "Give me your best shot."
"Who are you!?"
"I'm Shadow Heart, the CPU that took the fake down. If you wish to fight me then bring it on, I'll cut you into tiny pieces."
"You...how dare you lay your hands on him!"
"Why are you getting so worked up over a fake? If it's a fake, then it should be eliminated shouldn't it?"
"I'm going to tear you apart! Just you wait!"
"How far can you expect to get from Edonia? Even flying will take several days. But how about this; if you can get here in under three days I'll spare him, how about that?"
"I'll make it there in two!" Shadow Heart then chuckled from the other side of the line. "And don't think I'll be coming alone!"
"Very well then, see you later." I then hung up, then handed the phone back to the woman.
"Ms. Amber Heart? Is something the matter?"
"Get our military ready…" The look on my face darkened as I looked at her. "We're going to war…"
Doo Doo Doo! Doo Doo Doo! Doo!
DigiStation!
Cali: Well, that was one heck of a chapter. Digit inversed for the first (and not the last) time, Croire returned, I dropped a huge revelation that I've been waiting to do since Neura was introduced, and we get some development(?) for Ichi? Sorry that this wasn't out last week, been busy with stuff such as Overwatch as well as a few other things. This chapter was quite easy, and rather fun to write. Things are definitely starting to pick up though, with the possibility of Edonia going to war? And just who is the Shadow Heart that was on the other side of the phone? Nepera makes her appearance to Digit and Neptune, as well as the female Digit wants to see Abbadon. Things seem to be taking a turn for the interesting, therefore you definitely want to stay tuned for the next few chapters to see where things fall.
Until next time my dear readers.
Oh, episode preview, I nearly forgot.
An angered goddess makes a deal with the devil,
A truth is revealed,
An existence that should not belong,
A goddess falls,
Next time on Heartbreak Act II: Error