During Witch's Puyo tournament, Arle recuses herself. Amitie thinks it's odd that she won't battle and asks why. Her answer leaves the others shocked, and Amitie and Ringo are left in the dark as they discuss a strange event. Requested by a tumblr anon!
Old Wounds
"Blast Beat! Aktina! Fa-fa-fairy Fair!"
The onslaught of magic was too much for poor Ringo, who couldn't chain fast enough. Nuisance Puyo gathered over her head, and she panicked. All she could do was cry out as they rained down on her like hail. Amitie leaped her joy, her victory secured as she set off a shorter chain. A fiery flare flipped off her index finger, causing a couple more nuisance Puyos to trickle down on top of the smothered Ringo.
Clapping her wounds, Witch raised her broom high into the air. "And our winner is none other than Amitie! A round of applause, everyone!"
"Wicked!" she cried, enthralled as her audience clapped, Draco wolf-whistling.
Groaning, Ringo raised herself out of the Puyos. She rubbed her neck and snatched Witch's offered hand. As the world stopped spinning, she shook her head and said, "Great job. I didn't predict you would set off such a powerful chain."
"Aw, thanks!" Amitie beamed, her cheeks a touch pink. "You were great, too!"
"Now, now, there's nothing wrong with a little gloating," Witch interjected, tutting.
"I think you lack good sportsmanship," Ringo remarked, narrowing her eyes at the cackling shopkeeper.
In the audience was Chico, Seriri, Draco, Arle, and Carbuncle. Since they had all gathered by Witch's shop, she decided to hold a quick Puyo tournament, and the winner would receive any potion for free. It was a good time, but as Amitie made her way to the top, she couldn't help but notice something odd.
Arle had recused herself from Witch's challenge. Claiming she had a headache, she chose to stay by Witch's shop and allowed Carbuncle to Puyo battle in her stead. Chico offered to heal her, but Arle insisted she have fun with the others. While her pet enjoyed himself and Chico went off to battle Seriri, Amitie knew Arle wasn't one to back away from a challenge.
"Great job, Amitie," Arle said, approaching the humming girl. "You did amazing-"
"Hey, how come you didn't wanna play with the rest of us?" She thrust her finger at her nose. "Because I know that you love Puyo battling as much as the rest of us and wouldn't leave us hanging!"
Her eyes crossed as she stared at the tip of her finger. She stepped backwards and let her eyes adjust, Amitie's own gaze narrowing. She glanced over her shoulder, noticing the others gathering closer only to sigh when Draco cracked her knuckles.
"I know! It's because she knew she'd lose to someone as gorgeous as me!" The dragon woman laughed, a haughty tone coating each rising decibel.
"Seriously not the case, stupid," she mumbled only to clear her throat. "Well, I was having a headache, but I've had something else on my mind."
"What would that be? Are you okay?" Seriri asked, holding her hands by her stomach.
Rubbing her temple, Arle cocked her head. "I've been having these weird dreams lately."
Chico bristled and tightened her grip on her staff. "Of what sort?"
"Remember that doppelganger of mine?"
A hush fell over her friends. Amitie and Ringo exchanged a glance. They considered Dark Arle a sort of doppelganger, but that was only Ecolo possessing her.
"Ah, of course," Witch said, her gaze drifting towards the grass. "She was certainly a mighty opponent."
"Yeah, you almost lost," Draco added, her sore comment earning Arle's continued ire.
"Gugugu," Carbuncle mused, racing up Arle's side and leaping onto her head. "Gu~gu gugu!"
"That's right, I'm still here, Carby." She patted his small paw. "Still, I've been having a lot of dreams about that event lately."
Chico pursed her lips. Shuffling her feet, she sighed. "Admittedly, so have I."
"Eh? You have?" Seriri bit her lower lip. "M-me too. Sometimes...sometimes, I'll see her in my dreams, but it's not just that."
"The world ending, right?" Witch asked, lowering her voice.
"And there's a bunch of fire...not caused by me." Draco scratched through her scalp, her tail thumping against the ground.
The silenced continued, Amitie and Ringo's eyes widening as far as they could go. Considering they weren't from their world, they had no idea what the other girls were discussing. It seemed painfully serious, but at the same time, it all sounded like nightmares coming to life. Somehow, they were plagued in a peculiar way, one that left Ringo's mind racing.
"What are you all talking about?" Amitie blurted, uncomfortably gripping her belt. "Because I'm so lost!"
"I am as well." Ringo cupped her chin. "It seems you're all discussing some theories that...may or may not have happened?"
Arle's shoulders hitched. "Oh! You two wouldn't know about it." She scooped Carbuncle into her arms and hugged him. Smiling at him, she added, "There was a time when Carbuncle was kidnapped by...another me."
"A doppelganger to be exact." Chico shuddered. "One filled to the very brim with evil."
"She had the power to control even Satan." Seriri uttered a soft whine and gently touched Arle's forearm. "W-we were all so worried that Arle would be hurt or worse."
"But even though that freak kicked us all out when she fought Arle-" Draco broke into a wide grin. "-our Arle kicked her to the curb!"
Another hush fell over the girls. Despite Draco's enthusiasm, the implications were still present. Amitie and Ringo looked at each other again, the latter counting the beats between them before throwing her arms up and screaming.
"B-b-b-but that's illogical! Doppelgangers can't exist!" She shook her head, her curly hair smacking against her cheeks.
"Yeah, well, she does," Arle said, chuckling awkwardly.
"Gu! Gu gu gugugu!" Carbuncle frowned and waved his tiny paws.
"Um, I'm not trying to be dissuaded, but considering you're all having the same kind of dreams…" Ringo hummed and crossed her arms. "...it may hold some credence."
"Did the doppelganger cause the fires, too?" Amitie asked, tapping her chin.
Witch shook her head. "No. I'm reckoning that's some other…" She trailed off and flicked her gaze at Arle.
Fiddling with the hem of her skirt, Arle furrowed her brow. Her dreams had been more frequent. Horrible nightmares about her other self, fires, and beings she couldn't fathom invaded her peace. With the other girls having similar traumas and dreams, she felt herself gulping down her anxiety.
"Like...some kind of deity," Chico murmured, fiddling with her staff. The worn wood provided meager comfort between her fingers.
"U-unimaginably powerful, too," Seriri added, shuddering.
"But enough about that!" Draco snapped, a bit of fire peaking out past her lips. "It's just dreams, all right? We don't have to worry about 'em!"
"Maybe Ms. Accord or Lemres might know something to help soothe your nightmares. Oh, or maybe Feli can help! She knows all about fate, and they're just really smart!" Amitie offered, the immediate smiles given by the former three filling her with hope.
Witch and Arle sidled together, Carbuncle balancing in her arm. Ringo noticed their closeness and stepped closer, asking for more information. Carbuncle shivered, hugging Arle's chest plate as if he would lose her again.
"Draco said they're just dreams, but sometimes, they feel too real." Arle swallowed. "Do you think she'll come back?"
Witch closed her eyes. "Who can say? Only time will tell."
"But if she does or if whatever else comes to fruition like a deity…" Ringo clutched Arle's shoulder. "...we'll all be there to stop them."
A flash of fire and destruction crossed her thoughts as Arle smiled, only Carbuncle catching the grimace in her grin.
"Yeah! That's right. We can do anything if we're all together."
She still couldn't hide the corpses that plagued her dreams or the doppelganger who bravely fought against an almighty monster as she stood still and watched the chaos contaminate it all.
They're just dreams, right? It won't happen here. It can't happen here, but if it does, can I save everyone?
She laughed as Amitie pulled her closer.
I can, right? I can?
Carbuncle caressed her head and tried his best to happily gu.
I don't know.