Ninth Chapter: Three Figures

"…you might have to kiss her."

I didn't even notice Lust as she had left through the forest, my mind was twirling so much. My stomach began to feel as if it had been twisted into knots. Kiss her?

It wasn't so much that I didn't like Starfire… I did, I truly liked her, but… would it be alright to kiss her… without her knowing?

I pushed the thought out of my mind and exhaled slowly. I would think about that if I had to do it, and if I had to choose between reviving her with or without the kiss, I would-

"Robin."

I must've at least five feet into the air, my thoughts clouding all of my senses. Once I had focused, I noticed shadowy figures sitting on a tree branch to my right; three of them. There was a reclining figure, a slouched figure, and a figure that stood and walked over.

"Yes, you." Another voice said. It sounded smaller, somehow. I assumed the first voice was the standing figure, and the second was the slouching one. All three, I figured, were Starfires.

As my vision focused even more and they each approached me, I noticed that one was wearing black, one was wearing dark green, and one was wearing the darkest purple I've ever seen.

"I'm Compassion," The one in purple said, and I nodded, remembering what Harmony had said about her. She pointed to the one in black, and then the one in green. "Meet Sorrow and Mysty. Mysterious, actually, but we call her Mysty. She's the one in green. They're my friends. And you're Robin. I heard you and Lust talking, and Harmony told me a bit about the situation before going back to swim in the lake."

I nodded. She seemed like a mix of Harmony and Justice, with her direct comments and cool, clear way of speaking. "Hi," I replied quietly. Smooth, Robin. Very smooth.

Sorrow slinked up to me while staring intently at the ground. "Do you hate me?" she asked, and I admit; I was taken aback. She continued, though, "Because everyone else does. All of them. Everyone here, and there, and out there."

I raised my eyebrows as Compassion gave her a hug, muttering something about liking her just fine.

"Don't mind them," Mysty said from behind me. Behind me? I don't remember her getting back there…

"Oh, hush, Mysty!" Compassion said, still hanging onto Sorrow.

She shrugged carelessly. "So, you're Robin, hunh?"

I nodded for a second time and turned to face her fully. "Yeah; why?"

She shrugged again. "I dunno. Heard a bit about you, though. Lust seems to like you."

"B-b-but not me," Sorrow whispered sadly. "She hates me…"

"Shut up," an aggravated voice said loudly from above us, and soon Irry landed next to me, glaring at Mysty and Sorrow.

"Hey!" Compassion said brightly, letting go of Sorrow and bounding over to Irry.

"Hey."

I rolled my eyes. "And what're you doing here?"

Igrry put her hands on her hips and smiled slyly. "I heard you had a little run-in with Lust, and I thought you might've needed help."

"Well, I don't, so-"

"So, then I came over simply because you've already been in here an hour from your world. Well, an hour and a half, to be precise. Our time is a little wacky in here. But to be blunt, you don't have too much time left, so you have got to get to Innocence."

"I'm going, I'm going!" I said with a laugh and turned around to continue down the path.

Sorrow stepped out of my way and headed deep into the forest. I turned to the other three and gestured down the path. "Are you coming with me?"