"YOU AREN'T GOING TO HEAL HIM?!"
The incessant and intense bawling of the green haired boy in front of Neferpitou was alarming her. The stream of tears seemed endless. It was a dam emptying, an aggressive release of the pain she had afflicted upon him, yet she couldn't move her eyes away from his tortured and subjected form. In spite of the power a royal guard like Neferpitou had, it still wasn't enough to revive a dead human, to alleviate the anguish she created.
But what was even more frightening was the boy's aura. It was devastating, and it grew as the idea that she wasn't going to heal his mentor became more clear. It had shook every fiber of her being when she was left defenseless repairing the mangled stomach of Komugi. And now, even with Doctor Blythe not subduing the use of her nen, the nervous anxiety Neferpitou felt would not calm. It was reminding her of the ferocious aura she had felt when she neared the tower she found her King huddled over the still body. As sweat slowly trickled down her forehead, she cursed herself. To even compare anyone's aura to the King was an insult, but it only spoke volumes to the futility of her situation.
She had to kill this frightening boy. This boy, who was sobbing, pleading, begging an enemy for help, and despite that, he was so engrossed in his misery that he didn't even attempt to stop her during the grueling minutes it took to completely heal her arm. All she had to do was kill him afterwards, she assured herself. He was a threat to the King.
Once Doctor Blythe finished tending to her arm and dispersed, she once again bore the shrill cry of the boy in front of her. With all his power, this boy could do nothing but cry in grief and seek her help. However, Neferpitou couldn't judge him too harshly. She was eternally grateful to the boy for allowing her to heal the Gungi master, to listen to her pleas in spite of every action she had taken to deceive him, and she was doing the complete opposite for him.
When she had seen how her King had reacted to Komugi's injury, Neferpitou resolved herself to save her. She was going to protect the important person that her King held so dear— the reason her King was who he was. So all she had to do was kill the boy in front of her, but she wouldn't budge. Doctor Blythe was gone, so there were no excuses for her inaction.
"I can't heal him," she whispered, hoping to spur anything. "He's dead." Was she trying to aggravate the boy enough so he would attack, so she could react on his actions? Maybe she was just trying to convince herself.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T?!" he screamed. "YOU HAVEN'T EVEN TRIED!"
Her hands formed a fist, not to strike, but in self loathing because she was hesitating to kill this boy. It wasn't because she was fearful of his evolving and enraged aura, and it wasn't because her resolve to protect the King weakened. She didn't know.
Neferpitou was always quick to spring to action, whatever it may be, driven by her instincts, her resolve, and her curiosity, but now she couldn't rely on any of them. The grief this boy was feeling overwhelmed her, as if she was feeling guilt. But this was impossible. The only time she had ever felt any sympathy was for the King. Would her King have despaired like this if Komugi had met a similar fate as this boy's master? Would her King have cried for a human? In spite of the impossibility, she had seen her King's changes, and it was possible.
She knew it was possible. This aura wasn't a threat to the King. It was a threat to her.
"I'm sorry." She spoke softly, for it was her turn to plead. "I can't save him."
Her voice had nearly trembled, and she remembered how her King acted. How her King had wrapped his arms tenderly around Komugi's motionless form. How her King had realized he could do nothing but hold Komugi and rely on an ally. This boy had no one to turn to, so Neferpitou's body had begun to move to mimic the only thing that came to her mind.
In one motion, she hugged the boy in a similar scene she had seen the King act in. The image was burned into her mind, and now that she was recreating the scene, she understood. The boy was shaking violently in her arms, her shoulders were growing wet with tears, yet she continued to hold him. She could not console this child. She was the sole reason for his anguish, afterall, but this was the only thing she knew to do.
"I'm sorry," she repeated.
Gon's heart screamed, and he grew confused. His anger had turned into rage and then into a wild torment. The hate and the fury he had over Kite's murderer was overwhelming, but she was here letting his flood spill onto her shoulder. He didn't know what to feel. The immense rage he had was slowly surrendering, and the only thing left was even greater grief. He had regretted being too weak to help Kite, and now, he regretted not being able to save him. He was drowning. The source of his anger had saved a human life, even protected it from him, complied with his request, but ultimately, not even she could bring back a soul from the dead.
He was still so weak. He did nothing but hinder Kite, and he didn't even have the strength or anger to avenge him. It was Gon's fault Kite was dead. If he had not come with him, Kite would still be alive. He was sure of it.
He was never more vulnerable than in the arms of his enemy, of Kite's murderer, yet she showed no signs of hostility, only compassion. She sat in still contrast to his quivering body, silently waiting for as long as it took for him to calm down. Neferpitou didn't know how long they stayed like that, but eventually the sounds of his sobbing softened to a sniffle, and she only awakened from her stupor when a third party announced themselves.
"Gon!" Another boy she recognized called. This one was also with the man she had killed. Although, he had not been nearly as enraged in any fashion as the green one in her arms. Instead, she watched as his pupils narrowed quickly shifted between the 3 bodies in the room to try and formulate a conclusion.
"What did you do to him?" he yelled in puzzled desperation. Killua didn't know what kind of scene to expect after what he heard from Palm, and once he neared and couldn't feel the vicious aura that Gon emanated earlier, his panic multiplied tenfold. Instead, he found Neferpitou was simply holding Gon in a tender embrace.
What was happening?
The ant slowly lifted her head, and he was met with a solemn gaze. Was she pitying Gon? The enemy was?
"Get away from him!" Blood rushed into his right hand, strengthening it, and forcing his fingernails to grow razor sharp in an instant. He moved into an aggressive stance, yet he wasn't so certain about following through. "Move away from him or you'll never see Komugi."
A momentary flicker in her expression ranging from confusion to doubt flashed before returning to her pensive attitude, and that further confused Killua. Neferpitou knew they held her as a hostage for Gon, so there should have been no reason for her to be disoriented about his threat. Unless she believed that Komugi would have escaped or that she received information otherwise, and Killua did not believe for a single second that Palm would break her promise in the few minutes it took for him to get to Gon.
He had theorized earlier that it was possible that the Royal Guards may have had some inner turmoil, and Komugi's existence made that possible. Did one of them trick her to get her to act out? And in spite of that, Neferpitou had done seemingly nothing.
"We still have our hostage," he announced firmly, clearing her doubt.
Neferpitou brought her gaze to him again, realization dawning on her. Shaiapouf must have imitated Welfin and Komugi in an effort to trick her into making a mistake. He was the most sly of the Royal Guards, and he was surely capable of it. But why? Was Shaiapouf trying to incur the wrath of the King? To go against his wishes? Despite his hatred for the Gungi girl, he knew how deeply the King was learning to care for her, and he wouldn't dare betray him. Unless he had planned on directing the blame of Komugi's death to the invaders. If she had killed Gon, Shaiapouf won.
Again, she was grateful to this boy. Despite threatening to kill the Gungi master personally, he had saved her life twice. Calmly, she lifted her arms which surrounded the green haired boy, and slipped away, holding him up until the other one brought him onto his back.
They stood in rigid silence, both realizing quickly that they were in a stalemate. Neferpitou didn't plan on killing the two boys in front of her, but if she returned without them then Komugi may die. However, if she returned to the palace with the boys completely unharmed, the other Royal Guards and possibly even their King may perceive her as traitorous.
Killua knew how frustrated and utterly defeated Gon was. He couldn't bring him back into the fight, but he didn't know if he could escape from Neferpitou while carrying Gon on his back— even with Godspeed. He had just used it, as well. He was in no condition to use it immediately. Nevertheless, their allies were still fighting a war at the palace, and they were pressed for time.
"I must return," Neferpitou declared, breaking the silence. "I need you to bring him."
Shortly after they began their journey, Killua realized Gon had soon expended all of his energy and was quietly asleep on his back. He stole a glance at the ant running slightly ahead of him, wondering what was going through her mind. She had been in complete silence since they started their travel, yet she didn't express a single drop of hostility towards them. The fact she didn't take advantage of Gon's weakness to finish him off, he believed, was genuinely a miracle. The ants looked to be evolving every second, but what that meant for the outcome of this battle, he didn't know.
He had agreed to return to the palace, concluding that it wasn't a great idea to leave his allies two players short. He was afraid that Neferpitou would return to being a problem, but she insisted that protecting Komugi was her only goal, whether it was from them or the other Royal Guards. It wasn't an order from her King, but a request, and she would see it to completion. Killua figured if either one or both Royal Guards could be occupied with Neferpitou, it would be a tremendous benefit.
And as for Gon, he was as close as he would take him. He would be safe in the forest just outside the valley that the palace stood in. Neferpitou watched Killua as he slid Gon off his back before making him comfortable and as hidden as he could make him. He would explain the plan to the rest of his allies, hoping Komugi and Neferpitou could distract one of the other guards.
Neferpitou wasn't aware of Killua's intentions, of course. She was too preoccupied with whether she was too late to help the Gungi master escape Shaiapouf's reach. However menacing the green boy's aura was, the white one's aura wasn't nearly as frightening, and if the rest of his allies were about his strength, then they should be no threat to the King. They were merely ants under his gaze. That's how she convinced herself that her current and only objective was to keep Komugi safe, and if the invaders did try to harm her, she wouldn't hesitate to kill them.
But the scene that they walked into was baffling. A daunting silence persisted around the rubble and rising dust. What surprised them even more, as they searched the debris, was the fallen bodies of the other two Royal Guards. The pair was shocked. Killua couldn't expect his allies to have defeated any of the guards. The Royal Guards were far too powerful, and Neferpitou observed that. As they continued searching, eventually, they found Palm sitting beside an unconscious pair of Knuckle and Shoot.
She was understandably surprised when she saw the pair come into her view, but quickly, her expression turned shameful, worrying Killua.
"Where's Komugi?" He could tell that she had broken her promise, but to who did she hand Komugi to?
"She's… with the King. Killua, he's changed..."
"It's alright, Palm," he encouraged. "I understand." Has the King changed like Neferpitou? He seemed to have spared Palm, but if the King was here, then does that mean the Chairman lost? Did they lose?
"Killua… it's over. We won."
Neferpitou, who had been listening passively, finally became alert. "What do you mean by that?" Despite the clear panic in her voice, her aggression was merely worry. "What's over?"
"The King," she seemed to warn. "Wished to spend his last moments with Komugi… He has become afflicted with an incurable poison."
"Where is he?" Neferpitou begged, a rising panic forming. Although she had never dealt with any type of poison, Doctor Blythe had grown substantially stronger since its first use. She crouched into a more aggressive stance, demanding instead. "Tell me where he is." Doctor Blythe could help him. She was sure of it; for that was her purpose. Neferpitou had to at least try.
"If you are willing to disobey the King's last wish, then I will tell you." Palm knew if Neferpitou killed her, she would never find them. She was unaware of the underground shelter, and even her impressive En couldn't reach that far below. "Neferpitou?"
Killua was prepared to fight, but just as quickly lowered his guard upon seeing Neferpitou's conflicted expression.
The green boy had cried out to her to try, despite knowing that the dead were irretrievable. Yet here she was, deliberately attempting to defy her King's last wish in pursuit of an impossible task. That boy, who had inadvertently saved the King's dear person, was left with nothing, and the King was able to spend his last moments with her because of him. And Neferpitou— with all her power, was powerless to help her King or that boy. She succeeded in her first and final request, but she failed her king.
Gon awoke some time later, unsure of how long he had been asleep, and he slowly recalled what had happened before he dozed off. He remembered how the ant had broken her promise and yet embraced him while he cried.
He was conflicted, for his mind wavered between who was at fault for Kite's death. He had been too weak and naive, but Neferpitou was too strong. She had spared him, as well. Did she not think he was strong enough? That Gon simply wasn't a threat? He grabbed at his chest, his heart hurting from his rational. He was so weak, so incredibly powerless. Tears began to trickle down his already worn ducts, while the earth beneath him began to make way, each slam tossing dirt and debris into the air.
Slowly and eventually, his energy began to wane, and his mind began to clear. He remembered that Killua had been carrying him on his back despite all the nasty things he had said. With his mind clearer, he realized he had to go back and help his allies. He rose slowly, a new fragile resolve developing. He jumped high past the tree line to survey his surroundings, conveniently finding he was near the palace.
But as he made his way closer, he found it was utterly quiet. The dust that had been clinging to the air had settled, and there were no pebbles quietly rolling any longer. The fight was long over. He searched, finding the bodies of two of the Royal Guards, Menthuthuyoupi and Shaiapouf, lying dead on the ground, giving him a brief lapse for relief that his friends were still alive. However, he knew they didn't win until the King was dead.
As he walked around the corner of a destroyed wall, he felt a familiar presence, finding the sunken form of Neferpitou. She was hunched over, knees and arms lamely against the ground. Was she depressed because her allies had been defeated? Was the ant who had mercilessly killed his friends sad?
"Gon!"
Killua appeared with someone familiar close behind him, both anxiously awaiting to see Gon's demeanor, and Gon realized quickly that it was Palm. However, her body was unimaginably different. The ants had done something irreversible to her.
"Gon, I'm alright," Palm assured. "You don't have to worry about me, or anyone else. It's okay…"
How could she say that? How? After what they did to her, she was just okay with it. Or was it because the ants didn't kill anyone they truly cared about? Of course, it's alright for them. Neferpitou was sitting defenseless right next to them, and they didn't even think to restrain her after all the horrible things she'd done.
Neferpitou remained in absolute stillness, her failure the only thing occupying her mind. She had felt the growing aura behind her, the same one she had felt before, but whether that aura was directed at her, it didn't matter anymore. She had lost her one purpose, and with it, any value in herself.
"Don't tell me it's okay?!" Gon shouted, his rage quickly returning. "How is it okay?!"
"The King is dying." Palm was pleading for Gon to return to his senses. This wasn't the cheerful optimistic kid she had met. The anger, the wicked aura emanating from him was palpable. "He's spending his last moments underground. It's over. Gon…"
As much as it should have given him relief, it didn't calm him down. Still, Neferpitou's hands tightened into a fist, blue blood spilling from her palms, her mind completely faltering against the reminder, and her body trembled. Time seemingly slowed to a crawl for Gon as he caught sight of a droplet falling onto the ground stemming from Neferpitou, continuing to watch as one after the other plummeted, spilling onto the ground.
He couldn't understand it. She was mourning a loss in the same fashion he had. But how could an evil such as her understand the despair he felt in his heart? How could a loss trigger a pain close to what he suffered? It wasn't fair. She had lied to him— tricked him into believing she would heal Kite. She swore to him knowing that he was dead.
Killua could only stare, cursing himself for being unable to do anything for the person he cared most about. He had left him alone as Bisky warned, and although Gon hadn't died, he had been so close to losing himself, so close to an indistinguishable outcome. He had overcome the fear of confronting a strong opponent but he still hasn't conquered the fear of losing a friend. Suddenly, the aura around Gon burst in magnitude, petrifying Killua and Palm, both uncertain on what to do.
Gon was growing erratic. First, this ant had forced him to wait, so she could heal some stranger. Then she lied to his face about being able to help Kite, and finally, she somehow suddenly discovered compassion and surrendered without so much as a punch thrown. Was he just supposed to accept that conclusion? Was he supposed to forgive this ant? Did learning to cry dismiss her from the atrocities she executed?
Neferpitou had ripped from him his mentor and even a chance to avenge him. He was beside himself. He needed an outlet for his rage, his hate, and his weakness. He just couldn't continue living with himself.
Killua and Palm had been shouting, screaming at Gon anything that might calm him down, but their words fell on deaf ears. Their shoes were glued to the ground, yet their knees seemed to understand the danger that was imminent before them. Suddenly, a massive column of black aura erupted from Gon's feet. A malevolent vortex swirled around Gon, completely engulfing him in a fiery pace. The pair were able to see through small patches of the swirling aura, finding a sinister form that was unlike the small, green hair boy they knew.
Though the wind around them calmed, their instincts hadn't. They took a cautious step back, witnessing as the aura dispelled, a new body that wore Gon's clothes but it wasn't the Gon. A tall muscular man bore his gaze at the Royal Guard still on her knees uncaring.
"Gon, what do you think you're doing?!" Killua cried. "Is killing someone who doesn't want to fight going to help?"
"Get up." His feet were only a few steps from Neferpitou, yet she still chose to remain motionless. "Get up and fight me."
"Gon please… this isn't you," Palm pleaded.
Neferpitou was still, a nervousness gnawing at her. This was power that could rival her King's, yet that no longer mattered. However, she could feel something sinister, a primal instinct shouting at her. Was it for her life?
A rustling of grass made his movements clear. Gon was walking away from her. Why? Did his rage suddenly disappear? Was she no longer his target? Neferpitou's pupils narrowed at the realization. She wasn't his target.
"PLEASE," Neferpitou screamed. "Spare them and take my life instead."
The towering new form of Gon hesitated for a moment but didn't even turn his head before continuing. It was completely stupid— what she was doing. Her King's death was inevitable, yet she was going to try to stop this monster from reaching him regardless. She had failed her duty, but at the very least, she wanted her King to die a peaceful death with the one he cared most for. The footsteps were growing fainter, but new resolve spurned into her soul.
Her thighs grew unimaginable in size, ready to spring herself forward before activating Terpsichora. A great amount of dust exploded from her leap, covering the distance between them in less than a blink, tears trickling behind her. Despite her velocity, Gon finally turned his head, greeting her with a somber stare, his speed far surpassing hers. He merely stepped to the side to her horror, preparing a kick eventually hurling her into the neighboring walls. She quickly recovered from her disorientation, and launched herself again, this time more cautiously. As she grew near, an orange ball of light began forming around Gon's fist. The ground around him was scattering, the wind was howling, and her instincts were screaming.
"Give me scissors."
Neferpitou had not even been close enough to make contact, but his aura sliced through the air at incredible speed. She staggered and stared in disbelief as her arm flew into the air. She was faced with overwhelming power that baffled her, and not a moment later, her face was smashed into the ground, her whole body crumbling. Gon was leagues above her in ability. It was inconceivable. It could have only come from sacrificing the rest of his life. This boy, who had been blessed with a gift, was willing to throw it all away because of her. Because she killed someone important to him. A vicious tightness began strangling her, and she realized it was because Gon had wrapped a killing grip around her neck. She was relieved, however, he would use this power on her instead of her King.
Gon scrutinized Neferpitou's pathetic attempts to free herself from his grip. Blood was still spilling from the shoulder where her right arm used to be, and her other one was weakly grasping at his forearm. He raised his free hand, forming a fist, and the ground beneath them began to tremble. His muscles tensed, and with an unchanging solemn expression, a dense golden aura began enveloping his fist.
"Gon, please! This isn't going to bring Kite back!"
The tremendous energy didn't falter, but Gon returned eye contact with his friend. The desperation and hopelessness of seeing Gon in this manner was gripping Killua's young heart. He was searching, thinking, believing he could find something to say that could snap his friend out of this trance, back into who he was. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words would escape. Killua froze at the sight of the vast emptiness behind Gon's eyes, hating himself for what he couldn't do.
The incredible loss and grief Killua shouldered escalated, as he watched Gon turn his attention slowly back to the ant in his grasp, his hand cocking back to release, the energy surrounding it spiking terribly. He could see the teardrops descending onto Gon's other hand, the remorse, the hurt, and ultimately, the acceptance on Neferpitou's face. Killua saw the regret and torment Gon would feel if he followed through with this, and he knew then that he would have truly failed his friend.
Even with Neferpitou's vision becoming obscured with injury and tears, she could feel the white aura of the other boy bolt in front of her, and without hesitation, she used her one arm, shoving the boy out of certain death. The path of Gon's punch had been slightly altered, narrowly avoiding Killua with the ant's help, and instead, it exploded an inch from Neferpitou's head causing the ground beneath them to erupt.