Chapter 25- Another World.
Author's Note:
I'm sorry. I haven't been fair to you all. You deserve better than this neglect. It's been a long time…like a shit long time for not much. I'm sorry and if you'd like to see my reasons I will write you a list. It will be extensive and long but there are reasons that you'd not believe. Been a crazy few months here.
But what matters is this, it is not dead just yet. I intend to finish this. At least this first part. I originally planned a different story for this and a whole other story arch in the form of a sequel. If I feel it's not worth it I won't write it but I WILL finish this.
I read all your reviews and it was my last one that got me to finally get off my ass and write this.
I'm sorry, I don't have the three chapters you ordered me to write but I have this one by the end of the week at least.
You guys deserved better than this laziness…I am sorry. Please enjoy Ghetsis and Colress.
Have a great day guys.
Alice.
Falling, spinning and tumbling down Alice continued to descend into the inky blackness that was the hole she'd been tossed into. Unable to breathe or even see through the thick cover of darkness there was nothing Alice could do but clutch as the small bundle of white fur. It was warm under her fingers and she could feel little claws digging into her chest as it in turn held onto her.
Their fall was not a long one. A few wild seconds of crashing down with no control and then nothingness. If she had passed out or the world had stopped falling Alice did not know. What she did know was that in just a few more seconds she was tossed out of that dark world and onto hard tiles.
The impact was sharp and made her wince, the tiles freezing cold against her body but she did not move. Finding that her body was aching and head ringing made it impossible for her to get a clear picture or move. Somewhere to her side a soft cry of a pokemon sounded and Alice responded in a groan of pain –at least confirming she survived the fall. As her stomach stopped churning and her head stopped spinning Alice was just able to shove herself up onto her hands and knees, finding even that action to cause another wave of nausea to roll over her. She almost ended up losing her lunch and decided that slow and steady was the best method of recovery this time.
"Oi..?" Lifting her head slightly Alice found herself staring at an Eevee. A white little pokemon that looked at her with big worried eyes while nudging its head against her shoulder.
"I-I'm alright." She confirmed, placing her hand atop its head to try and ease its worry. "Still breathing." Alice smiled just slightly before the sound of a booming and unfriendly voice echoed through the place she had fallen into.
"What is this?" Alice –still working on the whole moving thing- tried to sit up properly so she could see who was shouting. With her face no longer facing the ground Alice was able to see just what kind of place she was in.
A large hall, decked out like a castle stretched out before her. Large pillars flanked the floor she sat on and the massive windows had the curtains drawn, leaving the room in darkness. The elongated room had polished marble floors and a red carpet that lead up to a set of shallow stairs. What sat atop the platform of those stairs had Alice's mind reeling. An actual throne –an honest to god throne- sat at the head of the hall and standing from it was the man who owned the shouting voice.
The person that stood from the throne was a strangely familiar figure. The man dressed all in black that stared down on her in that moment was N's father. She was staring straight up at Ghetsis –and he didn't look terribly pleased.
"Where is N?" Ghetsis shouted, turning to look at the grunts that were unfortunate enough to be present at the time. "What happened? Can you do nothing right?"
"M-my king I do not understand what happened." One grunt answered, shaking in his boots as the wrath of the king was turned on them. "W-We had his position perfect." Ghetsis snarled as he glared down on his useless subordinates. "We got the boy…?"
"Pathetic, useless fools!" Alice was getting a little bit scared listening to that bellowing voice turned on others in rage. "I needed N, not that silent boy!"
By her side the Eevee quietly nudged against her side, looking worried as its ears sat back flat against its head. Alice agreed with the pokemon, she wanted to get out of here to. While Ghetsis was growling at the grunts Alice crept up onto her feet, crouching low as she tried backing away. Somewhere behind her there must be a door, she just had to find that. Once she was a few good steps away Alice felt safe enough to turn away and try running to freedom.
"You!" Alice froze on spot as that furious voice suddenly turned in her direction. "Not another inch child." Terrified and unable to move Alice had no choice other than to listen to steady, loud footsteps drawing closer to her. Alice trembled as she felt a presence rise up behind her, she could see the shadow of the king looming over her.
"Face me when I am speaking to you child." Alice tensed her body, clenched her fists and slowly turned. She didn't want to look pathetic even if it was in front of the scariest man she'd ever met. Once she turned to face the man she was met with a single staring cold eye and the red glow of his eyes piece, it stared right into her core. Alice wanted to look brave but under that red gaze she froze a second time only able to avert her gaze before her body refused to listen to her commands.
"I said face me!" Apparently not pleased with her efforts a gloved hand snapped forward to grab hold of her chin, forcing Alice to look up at him. "When I speak you will-" That scowling expression twisted into surprise when he looked down on her face. The small pause was enough for Alice to push away from the man, stumbling back away from him while the Eevee stood in front of her snarling at Ghetsis.
Ghetsis allowed her to break free, still staring at her as though he'd seen a ghost. It took him a few more seconds of staring at her before Ghetsis regained his composure. Clearing his throat Ghetsis took a calm step towards Alice.
"Forgive me my dear, there seems to have been a mistake." Alice was stunned by the sudden change in tone. "You see I was expecting my son. He's been gone for quite some time now and I am desperate to have him returned to me. You could understand that yes?" Alice nodded vaguely while trying to remember what the pokemon games had said about Ghetsis.
He was a strong speaker and funded N's pokemon liberation…he was a villain Alice was sure but she could not remember just what became of him in the end. Perhaps he truly did just want N returned to him? Alice was unable to remember the final hours of the game just as she had since N arrived in her home but for the time being that could be ignored.
"Y-Your…looking for N?" Alice repeated, finding her brain was somewhat fuzzy and her responses a little bit dense. Ghetsis cracked a smile and for some reason it made her skin crawl.
"Yes that's right. Do you know him my dear, a friend of his perhaps?" Ghetsis walked closer to Alice, extending a warm kind of welcome. "N has so few friends it is nice to see he has made some new ones. I apologise I have not introduced myself properly. I am Ghetsis Harmonia of Team Plasma, young lady what is your name?"
"I-It's Alice…." She was afraid of this man, if that red gaze weren't enough to stop her heart cold.
"Alice, my dear." Ghetsis smiled at her kindly offering his hands out to her. Uncertainly she held her hand out to him and watched as he gently took her small hand into his own gloved hands. Alice wasn't sure why but she had not expected Ghetsis to be so welcoming. In fact…this seemed downright wrong but she couldn't quite remember why.
"Please tell me, where is my son?" He asked politely.
Don't tell him. Alice knew without a doubt that she should hold her tongue. Even though Ghetsis acted kind towards her Alice did not trust him, she did not trust him with N even as his father.
"I'm sorry sir." She muttered, glancing away from the male before her. "I do not know where he is…I don't even know where I am." The large hands that held hers tightened slightly, the only sign Ghetsis let slip that he was agitated by that answer. However he remained composed and only smiled all the more sweetly.
"You must be very tired and confused from your fall. Worry not, we will have a room organised for you and once you've rested I will ask you again." Alice wanted to pull away and refuse him but before she could even open her mouth grunts were flanking her sides.
"Please rest and let your mind reset. Perhaps having your little…friend with you will help your mind feel more at ease." Ghetsis added, gesturing to the Eevee that continued to snarl and snap at the grunts around Alice. "And please…do take your time."
With another warm smile Ghetsis waved as both girl and pokemon were ushered off quickly despite the obvious confusion and nervousness. The second that the girl was taken out of sight the smile dropped of Ghetsis's face and was replaced with the usual scowl.
"Does not know?" He snarled, storming back to the throne. "Does that brat think she can get away with lying to me? Me? You there!" Ghetsis pointed to one of the remaining grunts. "Bring me Colress. Pull him away from whatever science he has his head buried in have him report to me. We need another portal quickly." Ghetsis began to speak with himself as the grunt stumbled away as fast as his wobbling legs could carry him.
"This is not how I wanted things to play out. However I must admit it may not be an entire waste of effort and time. The other one that came through, has he spoken?" Ghetsis asked one of the silent members of the shadow triad.
"No lord Ghetsis. He has not uttered a single word." One of the three brothers answered him in their usual deadpanned voice.
"Shall we ask him again?" Another asked.
"Or should we remove him?" The last questioned.
"There will be no need. With more time in the dungeons he's tongue will loosen." Ghetsis waved the three off. If the boy was really the notorious Red or not Ghetsis was uncertain. He certainly had the male's face and demeanour but the one that had come along with him had the face of that girl. Thinking about that woman brought up mixed feelings in the Sage. On one hand Ghetsis despised everything attached to that trouble making brat but on the other he could not deny the malicious glee that came with the mere thought of her.
Slowly Ghetsis eased himself back down into throne, feeling wary with all of the failures that surrounded him. He felt fatigued by the pure idiocy of these people that never failed to aggravate and exhaust him. However it was hard to be completely taken over by frustration when things had proceeded so well up until this point.
From the reports being delivered to him the new world was not barren in the least and held a great many people in it. Each and everyone weak and without any pokemon to defend them. Ghetsis had been warned of their weaponry capabilities but even that did not faze him. With the correct use of pokemon even their guns would serve pointless. A whole new world to have, an entirely weak and pathetic world for easy control. Yes, even the imprudence of his subordinates would not get under his skin whist he dreamt of new control and order.
"Ah, my lord. You called?" Ghetsis could feel a headache building when the sound of Colress's cheerful voice assaulted his ears. For the man he allowed such leniency and control Colress never seemed to be entirely aware of his position, always far too busy with his science to realise the true potential he had when ruling plasma. Colress's goals were never the same as Ghetsis's but the two of them managed to keep having their needs aligned time after time. Thus they remained inharmonious comrades.
"The pokemon." Ghetsis wasted no time with pleasantries, especially not on this clown. "Has it stabilised?"
"Hmm." Colress looked down at his electronic pad thoughtfully. "It's fluctuations in bouts of extreme power are unpredictable and while they're quite impressive…controlling them proves to be unfeasible at the current time. It's rather exciting whenever it begins to charge in fact the levels are off my charts, I'll have to rework them now and that-"
Ghetsis wasn't hearing what he wanted to hear and was quickly becoming agitated with Colress's rambling.
"Enough!" Ghetsis snapped. "When can you stabilise the connection? I need more than one man through too take control of that world."
"Perhaps not." Colress replied, surprising Ghetsis but he saw the dark smile that curled on the clowns face. "I've been observing that place as you requested. It's quite simple really and I believe you'd have no trouble causing it to decompose right before your very eyes. It will be easy."
Colress was tempting him, Ghetsis knew this tactic well but none the less he did not doubt the doctor's words. That world that held no pokemon would prove to be no trouble given a small amount of planning and time. However that did not explain why his doctor was using this sweet method, he no doubted desired something.
"Doctor Colress." Ghetsis spoke firmly but professionally to the man. "What is it you need to continue your research?"
Again that smile came out to play as Colress's eyes were lost behind the shine of his glasses.
"Two more arrived here today, did they not? Two of the other worldly creatures." So that was what the doctor desired.
Ghetsis eyed him cautiously, Colress had become rather eerily fixated on the new world. It no doubt had something to do with their separate physical laws and science. Colress had become fairly dull over the years, his drive having been lightly diminished when his earlier research seemed to hit a brick wall. Now his eyes had that mad keen sparkle about them again and Ghetsis felt uneasy. Colress had a habit of betraying people for his science, it would be best not to let things get to that point.
"They are as human as you or I." Ghetsis told him gruffly. "They are of no interest other than to find a way to N."
"Yes. Yes." Colress agreed impatiently. "But I wish to see them."
"If I give you access to them, they must be breathing when you are through." Colress looked innocently surprised.
"If they are as human as you claim I'll have no reason to cut into them." Ghetsis did not care to remind him about what had happened in the past, they were both well aware. "I merely wish to ask them about that other world, there is only so much I can learn through a mirror image. With their cooperation I could no doubt find your answers faster and stabilise the link."
Ghetsis thought it over. The two they had did not seem of much use. The girl may be close to N and the boy may have some insight on the link between worlds but neither seemed willing to give up that information.
"What makes you think either will disclose such information to you?" Ghetsis asked slowly. Colress merely smiled, holding his hands out in a shrug.
"My charming personality?" Colress's shoulders began to shake as he began to laugh, the sound full of mockery. Ghetsis could have snapped that strange blue curl right off. Noticing the glare he was being given Colress's laugher subsided as a leisurely pace.
"Oh, do forgive me." Colress smiled taking a few steps forward. "But who do you believe they'd be more inclined to speak with my dear lord? After all my research does show to link between worlds to be quite extensive, if they truly represent people from our world then I highly doubt any ally of N's will be keen on delivering information to you."
If this fool thought he could get away with insult he had a nasty surprise coming his way. Despite his annoyance Ghetsis held his tongue and let the man talk out his point.
"Allow me to take the reins. Just for a short time." Colress's voice was silky smooth, the aspect of being allowed to speak with one of the other worlds occupants filling the doctor with a giddy joy. "I'll gather all the information I possibly can on that other world and by extension N. All I need is access to them."
"You'll get nothing from the boy." Ghetsis declared finally, shutting Colress up as a look of elation crossed the blonde doctor's face. This rough answer being a yes, even if it was delivered coldly. "He knows too much about this world and is keeping his silence, use the girl. She will be easier to get talking. I've sent her to the guest quarters in the tower, you know the way."
"Of course my lord." Colress was quick to take what he could, pleased with the outcome. "If you'll excuse me." Colress made to turn away but Ghetsis's harsh voice stopped him.
"Doctor. One last thing." Ghetsis called his attention once more. "The girl. If your theory is correct –about the link between people in both worlds- she will be familiar to you."
Colress actually frowned as he took a sparing glance back at Ghetsis but those words did not keep him frowning for long. Instead he beamed not a second later and said nonchalantly.
"Just another theory I can draw from her about that world." With that said Colress was quick to escape.
Ghetsis had not seen the doctor so joyously in years. The man practically skipped as he left, leaving Ghetsis to sit back into his throne with a heavy sigh.
No matter how useful the clown was Colress's happy tone always grated on the sage. If only they did not need the man so badly Ghetsis would have fixed that attitude of his long ago.
There was always time for that in the future and things did tend to become useless given enough time.
There'd be plenty of time for Ghetsis to make some adjustments to various people.
It was best he started with that Red boy in the dungeon. That tongue needed to become loose and Ghetsis's patience was wearing thin.
….
N
When N came back to the waking world he was laying in something soft.
It was soft but N felt as though he'd just gone a round or two with a Steelix –not to hot.
Despite this N still tried to sit up from the warm comfort of his bedding. Giving a soft groan of agony N fell back into the bed, his body screaming its protests for trying to rise.
"Best you don't move too quickly." N's eyes opened a crack at the sound of a familiar voice.
"Oscar…" N found his voice sounded rough and broken. Just what had happened to his body? He did not remember taking any physical abuse. The man smiled at N, standing by the side of the bed as he poured some sickly green substance into a small cup.
"Here, to help with the pain." Oscar explained, helping N sit up so he could take that disgusting substance into his mouth. The second the bitter liquid touched his tongue N gagged, wanting to spit it all back out.
"Don't even think about it." N's eyes met with Axel, the male standing at the end of his bed, arms crossed. "Drink it all." N recalled when he and Axel had both attended to Alice when she was ill and the scolding he'd been given for trying to give her the wrong medicine. Apparently Axel was quite the little medic.
Begrudgingly N forced himself to swallow the disgusting stuff, a king must not spit out his medicine. Though the smug look on Axel's face did not help the process. Now that N was upright and looking around he saw that it was not only Axel and Oscar tending to him. In fact it seemed most of all the people he'd met were here.
The twins sat on the far end of the unfamiliar room, by the window and as far from N as possible. After their last encounter neither party was keen on conversing with the other but N had only done what had to be done to get to his guide. By Axel's side Rose was looking at N with a nervous smile, the girl never striking N as the type to hold a grudge.
Hunter was sitting by N's bedside, glaring downwards with that disgruntle face of his and next to him his sister was holding what appeared to be a damp cloth. Briefly N remembered the goddesses and the way they'd tend to him when he fell ill and despite their differences N couldn't help but see the same kind of care in Camilla.
The only people absent from this picture were the two singers N had met, Chase, Riley and Alice. He did not ask after any of them as he knew exactly where two of them would be and doubted his ability to speak of it.
"What happened?" N asked quietly, still not sure as to why his body seemed to be responding to his movements with pain.
"You collapsed." Hunter was the one that spoke, still facing the ground as he did. "Riley brought you back here."
"Riley?" N repeated, knowing full well Riley was not here. Hunter knew it to but he simply glared at N, ordering silence. Now was not to time to start telling everyone about their other world. Logic of this world dictated that to be impossible and N's head hurt too much for an argument to take place competently.
"Where are the boys?" N asked finally, the question confusing not only the gathered people but N himself.
He had asked it without thinking. With Alice…missing, N's next thought had been of her little brothers. They had nobody else to look after them other than their sister and while N had no fond feelings towards Vincent he could not ignore his guide's most precious family.
"Elliot and Vincent. Where are they?" He repeated and Oscar snapped his fingers in understanding.
"Ah, I've got them here. They're playing downstairs." It was those words that made N realise he did not know this place at all.
"Where is here?" He asked, glancing around the homely looking room. "Your residence?"
"You got it." Oscar smiled. "Riley brought you here after you collapsed. He said that he was going out to find Alice and slowly everyone started arriving here."
Oscar paused to look over the gathering, as though still bewildered as to why they'd gathered. "Apparently Riley went and saw each one of them, told them to come here. I'm perfectly fine with it!" He added cheerfully. "A friendly gathering is always welcome!"
N knew without asking that Red intended to gather each and every person they knew here and then approach them about Alice and Riley. Red was a silent type and spoke sparingly but N did not doubt his ability to move them all here and if anyone was to speak sense to them it would be Red.
N only hoped that his guide was okay waiting for them. His hands tightened into fists on the bed, now knowing why Hunter's mood was so foul, he was feeling the same concern no doubt. If a grunt came for him and got Alice by accident then she must be with Plasma. No need to worry, his team would guard her safely he was sure but still he felt uneasy, wanting to be separated for as short a time as possible.
"Was there a man with me?" N asked, recalling the grunt had indeed not returned with Alice. An accident by the look of it.
"A man…" Rose murmured thoughtfully before her eyes lit up. "Oh yes! Riley had a man with him when he came to see me."
"Yeah." Camilla confirmed. "I saw that guy to, he looked like a creep to me." She added with a frown. "Didn't say a word, just kept fidgeting."
N knew he had to speak to that grunt, he'd get answers from him no doubt. All he had to do was wait for Red to return here with him. Zorua wasn't with him either which could only mean that the pokemon had stayed with Red while N was out. That did have N asking once again why he'd passed out.
N vaguely remembered having a momentary return of memory…he'd not enjoyed the experience. It had been fairly brief and N found that the walls had firmly been set back up in his mind. He could remember nothing new.
Irritation began to build in N, up until this point he'd not felt this agitated. Throughout his time here there'd been secrets and small annoyances but all of a sudden N was put into a situation he did not have the means to deal with. His guide was gone, he had no idea how to get to her or home and his own memory was turned against him. N felt like he was going to explode purely out of the sheer frustration he felt.
"Oh." N's frustration was put on hold as one of the twins spoke, N was not sure which.
"Look." Said the other and then it no longer mattered who spoke as they did it together.
"He's back."
All gazes turned to the two as they pointed out the window with blank expressions.
"Riley's back." They explained and N's head jerked up. Red was back so soon? That was good, N had questions for him. First and most importantly. How the hell could he get to Alice?
"He's back early." Oscar sounded surprised as well but then smiled. "Is Alice with him?" The twins glanced back out the window, blank faces remaining so.
"No. Only boys. No Alice." They answered and N watched Oscar's face turn pale. The man was cheerful but N could tell he was worried and rightly so.
No one spoke while waiting for Red. All of them were waiting anxiously, not sure what to say without Red's direct presence and information. N listened carefully to what he could only guess were the sounds of Red immobilising the grunt. N felt a tad bad for his grunt but the man was at fault, he was the one that had his guide lost in that hole so he'd not be jumping to his defence too quickly.
Red appeared in the doorway a few minutes later, Chase behind him and the two quiet men stood there staring into the room in silence while everyone stared back at them. Red eventually took a small glance back at Chase who shifted nervously until Red encouraged him with a single nod. Clearing his throat Chase stepped forward and spoke in a firm but somewhat uncertain voice.
"Everyone I've got some bad news. Alice is…gone." He paused, looking for the right word and N noticed his fingers brushing against his eyes, the habit of his contacts itching.
"What do you mean gone?" Rose asked, alarmed by the bluntness of his delivery. "Where'd she go?"
"Well…that is…" Chase struggled to come up with the words, no doubt worried they'd call him mad. Red must have convinced Chase on the way over. That was good, one less person to reason with.
"Chase." Rose pleaded. "Tell us something."
"Come on spit it out!" Camilla demanded as she tried to hide her concern. Chase looked more and more backed into a corner, stumbling over his explanation.
"She's in N's world." Hunter answered for Chase, not turning to face any of the others as he continued to glare at the ground. "According to Red she accidently got swapped over instead of him."
"You're joking." Axel scoffed. "You got to be fucking joking, I do not believe that rubbish for a single second!" N was surprised by how vulgar Axel's language became but considering the circumstances he thought it appropriate.
"I can't believe you'd pull this shit, after what happened when we were kids and you were making these outrageous stories up. Alice was an idiot for getting involved in them and now you're trying to push them on us again? Seriously? After everything that happened because of it?"
"Oh? You have a better explanation?" Hunter demanded, temper flaring in equal measure to Axel's own. "Are you really going to argue about this now? Now?"
As the two began to argue N watched Oscar sit down in his chair as though all his strength had just let him. N recalled their conversation where he'd claimed not to believe he was actually N and was actually from another world. At that time he'd also suggested he stay here, thinking that he may somehow take Alice somewhere else. Even if he didn't think it possible for the whole story to be true the fact that Alice was indeed now gone was the realisation of his actual concern.
It made N feel bad for the man who was something of a father to his guide, it didn't help that both Rose and Camilla looked as though they might start crying.
"Yeah I want to argue about it now!" Axel was growling back at Hunter. "This crap isn't funny anymore! It was cute when we were kids but we're adults now and this isn't something to joke about. Knock it off already!"
"You think I'm having fun with this Axel?" Hunter stood, fists clenched. "You think I'm making this up to have a good laugh, huh?" N could see an argument turning into a fight and oddly enough he felt no need to jump in and stop it. He'd never involved himself in human fights, it wasn't his problem and frankly humans were so far past redemption that he would simply ignore their violent nature towards one another and focus purely on pokemon.
N.
His eyes opened quickly as his mind conjured up a brief image of his guides smiling face, speaking his name as she smiled. Suddenly N felt bad, guilt forming in his chest. He should not allow Alice's friends to fight, especially over her. Such a thing would make his guide sad and he couldn't have that.
N remembered vaguely that he'd come to dislike Alice's closeness to these people but when he thought about her reaction to the loss of one of them alone he could not bear to consider what may happen to her heart if they ended up feuding and ultimately splitting from one another. If she came back to find them in shambles he could imagine the heart broken face she'd make. If it caused her to cry…
No. He had to put an end to that possibility –Immediately.
"Enough." N called, gaining the attention of both parties as he spoke in a firm tone. People would hear reason when spoken too with confidence. "Hunter is right, Alice did pass between worlds. If you believe that or not is irrelevant, your belief won't change anything, there is only what is true and correct."
"As for what should be done, arguing about it will achieve nothing. I intend to find a way to get Alice back so do stop arguing amongst yourselves."
"No." Axel muttered angrily. "It's not about that, not just about that anyway. It's the principle of the matter. To think you'd bring this up again all these years Hunter…"
"I was not lying then and I am not lying now!" Hunter insisted. "I know you think that it caused that whole event but it's not like that."
"Oh? And I suppose you're going to tell me that Riley is actually some sort of alien posing as our big brother?" Axel asked, pointing wildly at Red.
N swore he saw the ghost of a smile on Red's face and he just knew the male was going to speak in one of those odd occasions.
"I'd not agree to being called an alien." He said flatly. "Though it's true, I'm not Riley." The heavy silence that followed those words was almost physically solid. Red merely continued with the pleasant half smile. When he did speak the male seemed to have a strange sense of humour in his confusingly blank face.
Seeing no belief in Axel Red decided it was time for a bit more of a push in their favour. With a small sigh Red reached up to his eyes, delicately removing the contacts he wore. Once he opened his eyes again –blinking away the irritation of those coloured lenses- his crimson eyes all but glowed.
"Please. Call me Red." He gave a full smile. "It's time we had a little chat."
…..
Alice: "Hey…? Writer?"
Author: "Don't talk to me." *Is laying facedown at her desk."
Alice: "You die or something? Where you been?"
Author: "I've seen some shit Alice…I've seen some shit…"
Alice: "….So what's that mean for us?"
Author: *Pats her head.* "I'll finish you guys, don't worry. I never planned on leaving you, things just got a little out of hand."
Alice: "It's that hetalia fic isn't it? You love them more than us?"
Author: "You be nice to your family! They have bullshit to deal with too. Anyway. Just listen up okay? I'm going to finish you. You are going to get new chapters. It is going to be fun and we are not going to let you be a dead fic. Got it?"
Alice: "Right." *Nods.*
Author: "On top of that, you will be fixed up. I will go back and change mistakes and errors in previous chapters. You are going to get a fresh paint of coat and it's going to be great! Got it?" *Suddenly full of energy and life*
Alice: "Right!" *Smiles.* "This is good, to see you back and writing again- Hey! What are you doing!? You have chapters to write!"
Author: *Collapsed again.* "Five more minutes…" *Maybe not…*