Chasm Children
A Made in Abyss Fanfiction by
Nate Grey (xman0123-at-aol-dot-com)

The Buddy System
Compiled by the "Sunshine" Sovereign

From the moment I learned the truth behind the making of White Whistles, I couldn't understand.

Why?

That is, why were close friendships between explorers not encouraged from a young age? Why not pair them up then, so as to deepen the bonds that would one day allow for the sacrifice essential to the making of White Whistles?

The answer is simple and twofold.

First, exploring being what it is, there is no guarantee that a partner will survive long enough to form the necessary attachment. And unless the sacrifice happens at a proper time, in a proper place, it is entirely wasted.

Second, and far more important: there is no need to force what happens naturally. In an orphanage, it is perfectly natural for children to cling to each other. And exploring provides plenty of orphans.

I was blinded by my own logic, which I assumed to be flawless. Because my own pairing was not engineered, I failed to realize the gravity of its natural origins, until it was far too late.

I'm sorry, little brother. So very, very sorry.

For you, I promise: they will all burn, for all eternity.

Chapter 2: Princessing 101

The Pit was the only place on the entire island that Faputa was forbidden to go. And even then, she was promised: when the time was right, she would see it with her own eyes.

That day was her third birthday. An hour into it, precisely.

She was gently tickled awake by her mother, who kissed her and said there was a big surprise for the birthday girl.

Faputa needed no gift. She was a princess, and time with her mother was gift enough. Saying any of that, however, would have disappointed her mother, who obviously put a lot of thought and preparation into the gift.

Hand in hand, they approached, and stared into, the swirling darkness. Faputa had been told that the Pit breathed, that it lived as much as anything else on the island. Only now did she believe that. This was a vast and ancient entity, worthy of fear and respect.

"The first time I came here," the queen said, "I was near death. My spirit was broken. My body had reached its limit. I was ready to leave this world. The Three Sages prayed to the Pit, asking that I be given a swift and peaceful journey into the netherworld."

Unable to stop herself, Faputa tenderly folded her mother into her four arms, holding her tightly. "I'm glad you didn't go. Meeting you was my best birthday gift ever."

The queen smiled, a tear slipping down her cheek. "You're sweet, Fap-chan. I wish you'd show this side to others."

Faputa shook her head firmly, brushing the tear away from her mother's cheek. "Only in front of you, Mama." After a pause, she urged, "Finish the story."

"I thought I was going to die. But then, I heard it. The Voice of the Pit. It knew my name. It told me that I wasn't done, that there was still so much for me to do in this life. And then it offered. Power, in exchange."

Faputa blinked. "In exchange for-?" she began to ask, but the queen shook her head.

"I am not allowed to say. That was part of our contract. My life force was restored. No, more than that. It was made stronger than it had ever been before. I knew I was going to live for a very, very long time. I knew I could protect my village, my people." She paused and lightly touched Faputa's cheek. "And I knew I'd eventually have you, my precious daughter. It was worth it."

"What was worth it?" Faputa pressed, but the queen shook her head again.

"I can't tell you. Please don't ask anymore. But now, your gift."

"Mama, I don't need-" Faputa tried to say, but the queen shushed her.

"You are my daughter. It's your birthday. I want you to have something. Accept it, if only for my sake."

Frowning, Faputa nodded slowly. "Only if it's not too much."

Irumyuui smiled sadly. "It's a gift from me to you. Of course it's too much. How could it be anything else? I love to spoil you."

Faputa sighed. "Fine. What is it?"

"You know how there are only two Sages now."

"Because Vueko did... something bad."

"Not bad," the queen corrected at once. "Not legal, by the village's laws. But not bad. All she did, was for me. All she couldn't do... that was for me, too. She loved me far more than she ever did herself. That could never be wrong. At least, I could never tell her it was. Because I knew I was to blame for it, in the end."

"What does this have to do with my gift? You aren't giving me Vueko, are you? She wouldn't like that."

The queen laughed. "No, I wouldn't do that to her, or you. You are the princess. I am the queen. I need your help, Fap-chan. I kept the Sages around because I can't do this by myself, and whatever happened between us, they know how to guide our people. But it's different with you. You are my child, who I trust completely to know my will and thoughts, and never betray me. As a sign of that trust, I want you to select the third Sage."

Faputa was stunned. "What? But... I don't even know all the candidates!"

The queen smiled. "You know enough. You've watched me. You've listened to Vueko and the Sages. You know our people. You know what our village needs, even if you were too respectful to me to say so out loud. I know you have ideas for how to improve things. Now is the time to share them, and this is only the start. We can do great things together, you and I."

"But, Mama... what if I make a mistake?"

Irumyuui stared at her daughter, infinite patience in her gaze. "Then you will learn."

Faputa could see this wasn't an offer she could refuse, not without greatly offending her mother, which she would never do. And she did like her mother placing so much trust in her. But still, there had been no warning of this. "Can you give me a hint?"

The queen blinked, startled by that request, then smiled again. "I can tell you that your selection is limited only by your imagination. It can be anyone you choose. Or anything. That is part of the power granted to me, by the Pit."

This was much more helpful, though perhaps not in the way the queen thought. The idea came to Faputa immediately, and though she never stated it aloud, her desires were known to her mother.

They emerged gradually: rising from the ground in silence, their countless black bodies crowding around the queen and princess. And even if Faputa hadn't known them on sight, she knew her wish, and her tears flowed freely as she opened her arms to them. It didn't matter how long it took. She embraced and kissed each one, and screamed their names to the sky. She shared in their pain, celebrated in their joy at reunion, and mourned for how things had come to be this way.

After the last one, her throat was raw and her eyes were red, but it was a good hurt.

And then her mother's hands were on her shoulders. "Do you know what your choice is now, Fap-chan? Only so many wishes could have called them all to you here."

Yes, she knew. And she watched, as her lost siblings flowed together, forming a black, towering mass that seemed like its weight might sink the island itself. The mass spoke, in a low roar that surely would have made no sense, to any two other people. No, not true: Vueko would know, she always had. But, Faputa wondered if this should be kept secret, even from Vueko.

"This is the third Sage," the queen proclaimed. "The Sage of Defense."

Part of the mass broke off and flowed towards the queen, vanishing into a dark pool at her feet. Faputa understood now that they were part of the queen's power, and her body itself. And then she saw another part of the mass was flowing at her, only it turned white to match her fur as it reached her. And even that still left an enormous amount, to form the Sage's body.

So many children lost, Faputa thought sadly to herself. But no. The queen had carried them with her. Faputa would do the same. Their voices had reached Vueko, but now their souls would be safeguarded. They could not rest, not until both queen and princess breathed their last, and they all traveled together to the other side. But for now, at least, they would never know loneliness again.

"They all have names," Faputa murmured, "but this form needs a new one. Or Vueko might guess the truth, and it would hurt her too much."

The queen nodded. "It's your choice."

Faputa agreed, and faced the mass, which leaned in her direction, as if bowing to accept her will, and the new name she offered.

Precision.

So much of Ozen's life now centered wholly around that concept. Though she was exceedingly careful not to show it, each time that she drank to excess, or ate more than could possibly be healthy? She really did no such thing. Every mouthful was carefully considered before being consumed. She knew her limits, when she could go beyond them, and when it was better to stay firmly within them. Otherwise, she would have destroyed her body years ago, even faster than she had through natural, and unnatural, wear and tear.

Surprises were things that happened to other people. She had lived long enough where nothing truly shocked her anymore. And the only place she allowed surprises, was the only place that could truly still catch her off-guard. But then, that was why she'd chosen her profession. Never a dull moment. Even before Lyza came along. And certainly none, after that.

At that very moment, Ozen could hear the careful footfalls of Lyza's last surprise, slowly approaching. There was equal parts pain, determination, and excitement with every step, and it brought a slow smile to Ozen's lips. No surprises there, either, considering the child's mother. And though Ozen would never admit it, not a single bit of boredom to be found, not since that girl had first barged her way into the Seeker Camp two years ago.

There was a hard but respectful (one had to find that balance, quickly, to last among Ozen's troops) knock on the door.

"Come in," Ozen said, keeping her back to the door, and focusing on flexing the individual muscles in her left arm with maddening deliberateness.

The door opened.

"I'm leaving first thing tomorrow, Sensei. Thanks for everything."

"No point in thanking me," Ozen replied wearily. "I agreed to this solely as a favor to your mother. If not for her, I wouldn't have bothered with such a useless chunk of meat. You are only slightly less useless now, but perhaps you will go down fighting when you finally die."

"Of course I will. You trained me to do nothing less, and whatever your reasons, I'll always be grateful."

"Yes, yes. Try not to wake me up on your way out. And when you see your mother, remind her that she owes me a huge bottle of brandy."

"For my training?"

"No, that's an entirely separate matter. She drank my last bottle, and never replaced it. She can't possibly ever give me enough to pay off the permanent headache that you caused me."

There was a soft thump, and without turning around, Ozen knew the girl was on her knees, with her head bowed to the floor in a display of deepest respect.

After a moment, Ozen cleared her throat. "Off with you, now. But one last thing before you go, Riko." Ozen finally turned around, and met the girl's startled gaze. Ozen had never used her name even once during the training. "Be sure to take off those special glasses of yours, from time to time. I'm sure you'll be enlightened, by what you can see without them."

Riko immediately bowed to the floor again, taking the suggestion as an order, whether it was intended that way or not. "Yes, Sensei!"

"Stop denting my floor and get out."

Vueko noticed the change in Faputa first, as it happened nearly overnight, and involved Vueko directly.

Faputa was a kid, and acted very much like one. Irumyuui spoiled her, but even early on, Faputa understood that no one else had to. Nor did she want them to. That was something special, between her and her mother. Not even Vueko really considered herself close to Faputa, despite numerous failed attempts. It went no farther than Faputa recognizing Vueko's scent and accepting her constant presence around the queen, but they barely spoke, and rarely touched.

That was before.

Suddenly, Faputa wanted to talk to Vueko. A lot. And she was ambushing Vueko in the halls: leaping onto Vueko's back, shouting in Vueko's ear, and holding on while demanding attention.

It was a little much. No, it was a lot much. And Vueko, no matter how much she shrieked in fear, or cowered before Faputa's piercing eyes... she loved every second of it. She had been so afraid that Irumyuui's final and most precious child, would never fully accept her. And now that Faputa had, all was right in the world. Or as right as it could be, in Vueko's world.

Vueko was so happy that she never stopped to think about how strange it was. She had no idea what had changed Faputa's attitude towards her. Faputa was stubborn, greatly so, and even her mother's urging had made no difference before. So it was a decision Faputa had come to on her own, and she wasn't the type to share her innermost thoughts easily.

It didn't click for Vueko, until Faputa began requesting songs to help her fall asleep.

Faputa almost always slept with or near Irumyuui, though she would occasionally wander during the night and be found in some of the oddest places the next morning. She had even crawled into bed with Vueko a few times. But this was always attributed to her being a free spirit, and never to trouble sleeping, as Faputa basically became a rock once she was asleep.

So if Faputa was requesting lullabies, they weren't for her.

Vueko could have asked. Maybe she should have. Instead, she smiled, and promised Faputa as many songs as she wanted. And whatever worries or concerns Vueko had about the truth, the pressure of Faputa's head in her lap chased them all away.

Riko stood on the shoreline of the second island, taking slow breaths in an attempt to calm her excitement. It didn't work, not really.

While it was true that Ozen's training had been hard, even brutal at times, and nearly anyone would say that Riko was already a true explorer for completing it, those people weren't Ozen. And according to Ozen, Riko wouldn't be a true explorer until she could leave the island on her own. So this was the true test, or at least the first of them. It was time to show that the past two years had not been wasted on her, particularly when most explorers had to train for at least four years, to even be allowed to work unsupervised as Riko was now.

After a few more breaths, Riko reached up and firmly grasped the whistle hanging from her neck. It was do or die time, and as Ozen liked to say, if Riko died, then Lyza would dig her up solely to yell at her. More importantly, Lyza would know the instant she saw Riko back in Orth: Ozen had outright stated that she wouldn't bring Riko home, and that if Riko washed out as an explorer, then it was up to Lyza to collect her. Riko did not want that.
She raised the whistle to her lips, even as Ozen's words echoed in her mind.

"There's a special ore on the first island. A ton of it, really. We mine it, melt it down, mold it into new forms. Every standard whistle is made from that ore. The white ones aren't standard, of course, but that's not the point. The point is, the creatures that roam these islands? They all respond to the sound of the whistles. You can communicate with them, ask them to aid you. But you have to ask. And they choose: to help you, or kill you on the spot. And no matter what anyone tells you, it's not about willpower, or purity of heart, or anything like that. It's all up to chance. Or maybe fate. If it's your destiny to explore these islands, then you will. And if it's your time to die, then they'll consume you. Your mother is the only exception I know. They're all afraid of her, because she gives them reason to be, or they recognize her as one of their own: a wild beast roaming its territory. You won't be so lucky, so you better figure it out fast."

Riko was not sure how much of that was pure fact, and how much was Ozen's usual dark humor (it was never funny, absolutely never). She did know she could die. But, what a journey it would be. She closed her eyes, and blew her whistle.

It happened faster than she expected: she was no longer alone. Something was behind her. Something big, with hot, stinky breath, and when she turned to face it, the choosing would begin.

Riko turned slowly.

The Crimson Splitjaw loomed over her, its enormous lips inches from her face. It could swallow her whole with no effort at all, she knew. And if she did the wrong thing now, it would have every right to.

She blew the whistle again, but this time, she also spoke with it, and the tune carried her intent.

"I am a traveler. Will you walk with me on my journey, if only for a little while?"

For a long moment, neither of them moved, or even breathed.

Then the Crimson Splitjaw shrieked, and the sound, at that volume, and so close, shook Riko to her bones. But she did not miss the intent.

"Walk. Once."

With a shaking hand, Riko touched the Crimson Splitjaw's lip, signalling her acceptance of their temporary contract. And minutes later, her face was buried in its pebbly hide as the serpent soared across the water at terrifying speed. Clearly, their individual definitions of "walk" had been vastly different, but it was probably her fault for not specifying, and to a creature largely incapable of traditional walking in the first place.

But what truly mattered was that when Riko was safely back on the first island, and she turned to thank her traveling companion? The Crimson Splitjaw was already yards away, rapidly vanishing into the distance, heading back to the second island, or possibly one beyond that. Riko knew that if they met again, it would have no memory of her, or would act as if it didn't. One walk, and only one walk, clearly. But if that did happen, perhaps by then, she would have grown enough for it to find another reason to spare her again. And if not? Then at least she would die by an old friend.

"Thank you," Riko whispered. She did not dare to transmit that thought through her whistle, though. Something else might hear it. Worse, the Crimson Splitjaw might hear it, turn around, and decide that "once" had already expired for her. Best not to push her luck. Besides, she was home now, after two years away. She couldn't wait to see what had changed, and what had stayed the same.

At first, Riko was touched to find that her old room at the orphanage was still waiting on her. Someone had even dusted recently, and quite thoroughly. However, Jiruo quickly dissolved any happiness she might have felt over him or anyone else being sentimental.

"You fool. The other kids didn't want to stay in the former torture chamber. I had them clean it as punishment. They think long and hard about disobeying, if I imply they might be locked away in here for a few days."

That sounded entirely too much like something he'd do (the threat, not the locking), so Riko had no reason to doubt him. "But, surely you missed me, Leader?" she asked. When there was no response, she added, "Maybe only a little bit?"

He stared at her flatly. "I didn't get a chance to. Shiggy caused nearly as much property damage as you used to with your weird experiments. I don't know what you said to him before you left, but I'll thank you to take it back."

Riko blinked. She honestly didn't recall doing anything other than hugging Shiggy and promising to visit, when they last parted. He hadn't seemed too broken up about her leaving. Nat, on the other hand, had been a sobbing mess. Kiyui had cried and clung to her, but then, everyone expected him to. Shiggy had promised to continue looking after him, so she hadn't worried much.

Jiruo had not changed, but he was the only one who hadn't. Riko hadn't stopped to think about it much, but in two years, she had grown considerably. She was taller, and slightly heavier, due to how much pure muscle mass she had gained. But as she had always been rail-thin before, this had the ultimate effect of giving her curves (she hadn't been aware of them before, so they seemed entirely new to her, but she liked them). Unfortunately, most of Ozen's crew were older men who knew well enough what would happen to them if they were caught looking too long at a young girl, so none of them had. And so Riko had no idea how the opposite sex reacted to her new look, until she was reunited with her old friends.

To say they stared in shock was an understatement. Riko first mistook this for their being afraid, because she had obviously left with her mother, and now there was no denying that Riko was a true princess. She had never tried to lord over anyone, or used her status to gain favors, even though Lyza had encouraged her to, if she found herself in a tight spot. "I'd rather you talk big now and let me sort it out later, instead of getting overwhelmed by something a few words could have gotten you out of," Lyza always said. Riko didn't really agree, especially since it might be months or even years before Lyza could get around to fixing things for her.

Then a huge blond boy stepped away from the crowd. He had the look of a bully who liked throwing his weight around, and Riko was fully prepared to punch him in the nose, if it came to that.

But then a large grin spread across his face, his blue eyes sparkled with warmth, and Riko froze, realizing her mistake. She stared at him, hard, and then she saw it: that familiar curl on his forehead. "Kiyui, is that you?!"

In an instant, he closed the distance, wrapping her in a tight bear hug that lifted her completely off her feet. "Riko, I missed you!"

She couldn't believe it, he was enormous now. "Kiyui... h-how did you get so big?!"

"You're surprised, right?" Kiyui asked gleefully as he put her down. "I got really sick on my last birthday, but Leader took care of me, and then I got better. Then I got a whole lot bigger! Everyone was shocked!"

"Well, yeah!" Riko said, still staring at him in wonder. She couldn't resist touching his arms, they looked like he lifted weights in his sleep. "You were tiny before! What have they been feeding you?"

He didn't get a chance to answer, because then Shiggy was there. Without a word, Shiggy carefully took Riko's left arm in his hands and examined it closely. The only reason she didn't react, was because she had a pretty good idea of what he was looking for. Had he been anyone else, she would have stopped him.

Finally, Shiggy raised his eyes to hers. But all he said was, "I'm glad you're safe, Riko."

She smiled. "When you said you'd look after Kiyui, I didn't think that meant turning him into a giant."

Shiggy shook his head. "Beyond suggesting some diet changes, which I didn't do until after his growth spurt, I didn't do anything. I can't take credit for this. So, how have you-?"

At that point, Shiggy was shoved aside, and Riko had a brief glimpse of a slightly taller Nat before he was suddenly barrelling into her, but she was in no danger of falling because he was holding on too tight. Thankfully, his crying was a little more restrained this time. Riko returned the embrace, and wanted to reassure him that she was fine. But in that moment, it hit her: she could have died, several times over, in her two years away. And even if she was only becoming aware of it now, it didn't mean the same had been true for her friends. They had worried, and none more than Nat, clearly.

Riko could not say why that meant so much more to her, in that moment. All she knew was that she was suddenly grabbing Nat's face, glaring into his eyes, and then kissing him, hard. And as stunned as he was, he got over it fast, and began to return the kiss just as fiercely. Riko could hear the shocked gasps, the wolf whistles, the cheers, and even a few disgusted groans, but she didn't care about any of them. Because something had finally occurred to her, although she knew Lyza wouldn't like it.

Every princess was entitled to a consort. And Riko, even before she'd left to train with Ozen, knew perfectly well how to sneak out of the orphanage. But now, she realized she had an empty house to sneak into that night, and a mother who was far away on business. And, unless Riko was very much mistaken, and she didn't think she was, she now had a willing boyfriend in Nat, which would tie all of those things together very nicely.

When the kiss ended, she grabbed Nat's hand and dragged him away, but her eyes briefly met Shiggy's. He was smiling, and to her increasing embarrassment, he mouthed the words, "Don't break him." And she was not at all surprised, that Shiggy would know very well that she easily could, now.

Continued in Chapter 3: Preparations

Riko gets caught. The village of Irumyuui awaits visitors from Orth.

Endnotes:

-Lower tier whistles function differently here. They somewhat act as translation devices. And "creatures of the area" play a larger role (which does not exclude humans who have gained the "favor" of the area). And of course, some people (Irumyuui and Faputa) don't need whistles to communicate with creatures, for reasons.

-I thought Riko's first big creature encounter should be the same creature. In part because this particular one moves from area to area, which is exactly what she needed at the time.

-Shiggy's fixation on Riko's arm, is unrelated to Riko's fixation on Kiyui's arms. And yet, Shiggy's fixation on Riko's arm, is entirely related to Ozen's fixation on her own arm.

-I really can't see Nat's attachment to Riko as being anything else, especially considering nothing is likely to ever come of it in canon. Which doesn't mean I don't think she will never run into her friends again. Just not on the surface. And, probably not Nat.