A/N: This was just a fun little side idea I had recently as based on the Fukua story mode in the Skullgirls 2nd Encore. I was a bit unsatisfied to see how her ending was presented, but considering that Fukua is not canonically existing within the lore of Skullgirls but as a mere April Fools joke, and considering that I am a Fukua/Valentine main on Skullgirls 2nd Encore in the console version, as well as in the Skullgirls: mobile version, I've decided to make and give this oneshot a go. I feel like it's only fair for Fukua to also have a face to face scene with the Skull Heart, despite not being canon. - And to all fellow Fukua mains on the PC, console, and even mobile version of Skullgirls, this is my simple way to give Fukua the character development that she fully deserves, at least given by the best of my amateur abilities.

Hopefully you all enjoy this short! Also, I tribute the song "emily" By Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler for this oneshot! Totally recommend you listen to it, too! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Skullgirls.

Who I Am

Deep beneath within the catacombs of the Grand Cathedral floated the Skull Heart. A beautiful, blue flame calmly dancing around the charred Skull Heart as it floated before a single individual. A young looking minor with a dark green school girl outfit. A tan skinned girl, and her green hair parasite named Shamone. "It's over..." The girl finally said. Her voice was a little deep, almost as if she had just reached maturity judging by its sound. Indeed it was over. After a hard-fought battle against the youngest Skullgirl incarnation, Bloody Marie, there remains the Skull Heart afloat before them. "You think? There's still that thing to get rid of..." The green hair parasite on top of the girl's head replied. "Right... Should we really destroy it..? I mean... It's just going to come back after another seven years..." The girl replied. Shamone scoffed and replied. "Look, kid. Either we get rid of that thing now, or let another desperate female find it and make another dumb wish. Seven years is still a pretty long period of time if you ask me. If you, or any desperate female make a wish right away, it only takes at least a month before you turn into a Skullgirl. Your call, kid. Your the host, I'm the parasite."

The girl sighed. "I... Don't know, Shamone... We've done what that Brain Drain doctor wanted us to do... I mean... Isn't this what we were supposed to do..?" Shamone scoffed again before responding. "Other than your creepy goal of replacing that homeless kid of her identity? Filia? Kid, we've done our purpose. That lab freak made us. You and I were warriors from long ago... Remember? I was a strong man that can fight head to toe without weapons, and you were a skilled marks woman. We've both known about Skullgirls, and now we've actually killed one. Why turn back now? I'd say we smash that abomination and wait for another seven years to destroy it again."

The girl wore an uncertain look on her face. "Shamone... It's just going to repeat. Even for another seven years of waiting... Plus... We're homeless, and that's another thing to worry about... And yes... You're right... We've been chasing, and fighting those two homeless others just for their identity..." "Kid, I never once said I that wanna be that idiot, Samson. You were the one that's been chasing them, mainly Filia on the long run just to take her identity. Did I said anything about it? No. If anything, it's only you that wanted to commit identity theft here, not me included." The girl frowned. "Can you blame me, Shamone? We're centuries old warriors, whose souls never put to rest, and somehow captured by that lab freak... Then forced into this fragile, cloned body of a minor... I never asked to steal Filia's life and identity. It was just what we were told to do. By that Brain freak, remember..?" "Yeah. And I never agreed to the idea. So what if he 'gave' us new lives? Me, as a mere parasite? A goddamn parasite? And you, a what? A typical, schoolgirl? All of this ridiculous nonsense in exchange for doing that freak's bidding of hunting down a mere Skullgirl child with her own personal issues with the Medici Mafia? Are you really implying to argue that all of this in exchange for what we are now today to be worth it?" "Shamone, that's not what I meant..." The girl argued. But she stopped, noticing the Skull Heart still floating, merely listening to their argument.

"You are both replicas. Perhaps, you were both once proud, and capable warriors of your individuality, but your souls denied of peace and somehow got trapped only to be forced to serve while being a mere reflection of another person's image... No one, and not a single soul deserves to live as a mere shadow. To live - As a reflection of another person's individuality." The Skull Heart finally spoke before them. "I'd say we smash it and be dealt with it. We can get that lab freak back for trapping our souls in his lab once were done here-" Shamone gruffly suggested, but he was interrupted to notice that the girl, his host, wasn't moving. "Fukua. I'd say we smash it and be dealt with it now-" "Shamone... Are you thinking of what I am thinking..?" The girl, Fukua, finally responded. Her deep voice was somehow sounding uncertain about what she was hinting to her parasite. "I can grant you better lives... You can both be proud, capable warriors again like you used to. You do not have to live under a casted shadow of a person with their own individuality... You do not have to live, chasing them just to fulfill taking their identity to be yours to live on... You can be individuals of your own, like you used to be - All you have to do, my dear... Is make a wish... And I promise, that you will reopen your eyes, and finding yourself in your own, new life. One that you can call 'Yours' and not for any others to take..." Shamone growled. "No. She will not make a dumb wish. Back off, she can make her own decisions!"

Fukua just merely stared down at the Skull Heart. Her hand, slowly reaching for the Skull Heart. "Fukua! Goddammit! Don't touch that thing...!" Shamone snapped furiously. "Shamone... Maybe it would be worth it... Think about it... We can be actual individuals with our own bodies, faces and identities... Like we used to have..." Fukua's eyes never detached from the Skull Heart as her hand finally held it gently, feeling the warmth of its blue dimly glowing flame. "... I'm tired and I am sick of being a mere clone, Shamone... And I am tired of running after Filia just to steal her identity... And you think I keep wanting this..?" Fukua closed her eyes for a moment, letting a single tear escape on one of her closed eyes. "I can't bare to think of what would become of us once we do finally caught up to Filia and Samson... If... If... We finally discard them, permanently... I can't imagine, how our future would be - As Filia and Samson..." "Holy Divine Trinity, Fukua..! We're not going to waste this chance! I never asked to be reincarnated as a parasite, but at least, I have a purpose with something to do with this pointless parasite life of mine! And that is to kill Skullgirls, without that Brain freak telling me to do so..! It's my decision! But in your case, you're willing to make your decision just to make a dumb wish to be-" "Shamone... I'm not just doing this for me... I'm doing this for us... Isn't this what we both wanted..?" "Yes... This is what you both wanted... To be individuals of your own, like you both once used to be. My dear... Forget the people that overshadowed you... Forget the people who've seen you as mere reflection of a life that you can never claim to be yours... All you have to do... Is make a wish... I will give it to you... Anything that you desire, no matter how complex, how many, I will grant it, for the fulfillment of your desired satisfaction..." "You shut the hell up! She's not listening to you..!" Shamone barked with a loud growl. The Skull Heart, however, did not budged...

"Are you going to listen to your parasite, my dear..? Are you not that willing to make your very own decision for yourself..? Your intentions are to not harm others... But to separate you and your parasite, to be two, complete individuals like you both once were... Think, my dear... This opportunity, does not often arose for most others to take... This is only for in a moment's time of one, who is willing to decide for themselves to fulfill their desire to come true..." Fukua kept her eyes closed. Her hand, comepletely grasping the Skull Heart, and now completely ignoring Shamone's furious remarks of protests. Her eyes being shunned leaked of tears. "Shamone... If we become two completely different individuals like we once used to be... We don't have to chase Filia and Samson anymore... We don't have to live under their image, as mere reflection... We can be, who we are..." Fukua tearfully whispered. Shamone on the other hand, wasn't buying this. Of course... Anyone in their right mind, or anyone in their right mental state would think the way Shamone thinks right now... It's not about of the wish that Fukua is being tempted to make... It's about the result of the wish that is being the clear, obvious issue. "Fukua... It doesn't matter... Listen, kid... I know, neither of us took luxury of being brought back to life as a minor and a parasite. And I know that... Neither of us are comfortable of being fused together as one... And I know that... We're just mere reflections of Filia Medici and Samson... But... Listen to me... Kid... Listen to me..." Shamone's deep, aggressive voice slightly softened. "It doesn't matter if we look like Filia and Samson... I know, we've done bad things to them... Chased them... Harmed them... Repeated the same thing for as long as they were able to escape us... It doesn't make us perfect, but it makes us completely different from them... How we fought them... We are different to them, Fukua. We are both different. While they may have formed a fusion bond as host and parasite, with knowledge and ability to fight, they didn't stood a chance against us, and barely escaped us with miracles when we hunted, chased and attacked them..." Shamone sighed heavily with a small grunt. "We tried to kill a kid and her parasite just because 'We' as you placed it, wanted to take their identities and replace them, just because that Brain freak on that Lab 0 told us to do so as part of our re-purpose mission, as clones of Filia and Samson... Could you really stomach, living a life of someone else's life and identity, after having to literally murder them for it? And I'm not just talking about their identities that you wanted us to take, I'm talking mostly about the fact that Filia is just an actual kid that you want to kill to replace... We're not standing that low, Fukua... If we are called clones, at least we have some dignity within ourselves that we can proudly call our own..." Fukua began to sob because of this. "I never asked for this, Shamone... I just thought that... It was the right thing for us to do because..." "Because they're literally homeless..? Because their lives would not be missed if something, or anything happens to them..? Or is it because that Brain freak from Lab 0 told us to do so..? I know for certain that I never wanted to be Samson. I am who I am, Fukua. And I only fought Samson in order to protect you, just because you were so gullible and blinded to not be able to see what you were actually doing, and even had me involved, but it's not like I had any other choices, right..? Think of everything that I've said, kid..." Fukua gently continued sobbing. "I'm sorry, Shamone... But... You know me... I barely make decisions for myself... I've always been reluctant. Hesitant. Afraid to make my own decisions, in fear that I would end up making a mistake... But..." Fukua choked shortly before continuing. "... But the Skull Heart... I know the risks in return but... What do we have to lose..? If I make a wish for us to be... Individuals, with our own individuality..?" "... And you are willing to finally make a decision, even when you already said it. You know the risk... You're willing to risk, becoming a Skullgirl, just to no longer be a clone of Filia..? Fukua... I'd rather live with what I have, and as what I am... I hate being a parasite fused within your head, I really do. But I would very much rather prefer to stay as a parasite than live in a human body, given by the Skull Heart. And you know the worst part of it, kid..? Is that you won't even get to enjoy being a person of your own... Because you will become a Skullgirl. Now tell me... - How is that worth making this kind of decision..?"

There was a long pause. No one said a word, but the Skull Heart, seemingly becoming impatient. "My dear... Even if you do become a Skullgirl, you will still be granted your desire... To be a person of your own... And I can promise that your parasite will be granted his own-" Fukua suddenly interrupted the Skull Heart. Not by word. Her tears still leaking, but her hand, grasping on the Skull Heart, suddenly let go of it. "... Shamone... If I don't make a wish for us to be individuals of our own with our own individualities... We would remain stuck, as a mere clone, and reflection of Filia and Samson..." Fukua slowly said, rather in a whisper while in a broken down voice. Shamone, sighed heavily and responded. "I know, kid... I know... But you know what I think..?" Shamone gently smiled as he shortly closed his eyes as he continued. "I think we will be just fine... We may look like Filia and Samson... But that doesn't mean we are literally clones of them, right? We don't even act like them. Even if we try to mimic them, we would only end up looking ridiculous. But why would we do that? We know we're not them. We're who we are, kid. And we got each other's backs as always." Shamone sighed. He then opened his eyes, but remains smiling gently. "You can make your own decisions, kid. I'm not meddling on you, but I am kindly, and genuinely giving you an advice to think things through. There are two options. One: You make a wish for us to be individuals of our own, but that would mean, you becoming a Skullgirl. And I don't think I would ever be able to accept seeing you become a Skullgirl... Then... You have option two: We put an end to this abomination, wait another seven years to do the same thing again, even if we have to fight another Skullgirl just to destroy this damned Skull Heart. We, and most definitely I, won't have to worry being broken myself seeing you become a Skullgirl..."

Fukua smiled gently while still in tears. Finally, she replied. "Shamone... If I don't make a wish... We'll have to wait seven years, to fight another Skullgirl and to destroy this Skull Heart... But what will we do, while we wait..?" "Isn't it obvious, kid? We live on. Doesn't matter if people, or those Lab 0 freaks call us clones. We have our personalities. They're not Filia's, or Samson's. They're our personalities that we retained from our past lives. Personalities that we can proudly call our own. We'll just have to accept things as it would be if we will destroy this Skull Heart. Why? Because that's what we were reincarnated to do. We don't need to listen to that Brain freak on Lab 0. We can do this on our own, because we have our own free will. And that should be enough to prove that we're not a complete reflection of Filia and Samson. And I'll honestly tell you, that it's good enough for me to live on, even if I admit that I hate living as a reincarnated parasite."

The Skull Heart began to growl with all this as it slowly approached Fukua. But Fukua didn't moved. She just stood there. This time, she was smiling... "Shamone... If I say that I will happily accept being a mirror reflection of Filia, and you being reflection of Samson... Will you still be here, by my side..?" Fukua slowly asked. Shamone just smiled gently and replied. "Even if we were never fused together as host and parasite, kid. I will always be here, by your side." "You are making a foolish decision. You would be willing to accept, to remain as a mere reflection of another person..? I can give you anything you could ever ask for..!" The Skull Heart interrupted. The voice of the Skull Heart was on the clear verge of desperation. But Fukua only smiled gently. Then... She finally opened her eyes. Her eyes, filled with tears as she gently smiled. "I've made my decision. Shamone, and Skull Heart." Fukua wiped the tears off her eyes, and her smile remained as she continued. "It doesn't matter anymore if Shamone and I look like Filia and Samson. That doesn't really matter anymore, especially when our personalities clearly differentiates us from one another. And I will gladly, and bravely will accept this, not as a curse, but as reincarnation of Shamone and I. We may have been caused by failed cloning by Lab 0, but we were revived as souls into the body of a minor and a hair demon parasite, not to be as controllable puppets. But as reincarnated souls with this new purpose." "You foolish child... You do not have a purpose, as a mere reflection of someone whom you used to harm to take their identity by force..." The Skull Heart remarked. It was clear sign of desperation to tempt Fukua. But Fukua just smiled as she stared back at the Skull Heart.

"No. I think you may be wrong there, Skull Heart... Shamone just gave me a purpose. And that is to fight Skullgirls, and to destroy you, the Skull Heart." Fukua sniffed as she allowed the final tear escape her eye. "And now that I know Shamone would always be here by my side, I am happy to know that I am not alone to accept living on, while waiting seven years until you return." Fukua wiped her final tear off her face, and her smile never fading. "I'd like to thank you for your offer, Skull Heart. But I will take Shamone's word over it. I think we will be just fine - As Fukua and Shamone."

The Skull Heart growled. "You are a fool-" Fukua's hand was then suddenly covered in Shamone's hair, imitating a long mouth with sharp teeth. Crushing the Skull Heart instantly with ease. Now, it was over. For now... "Thank you, Shamone... Thank you..." "You don't have to thank me, Fukua... Just remember: I'll always be by your side, fighting by your side. As your friend. As your parasite. As Shamone." "And I promise to do the same. As your friend. As your host. As Fukua."

...

It didn't take long for Fukua and Shamone, both already accepted their identities as it is, to find Filia and Samson in the streets of New Meridian. Hostility from Samson greeeted them, along with a weakening, starved Filia. Such forgiveness needed to be pleaded. The two parasites did not get along, but in Shamone's case, and for both Fukua and Filia's sakes, Samson ended up being the only nuisance of the two parasites. Eventually, Filia forgave Fukua, and even accepted her as a sister. A twin, moreover. The two remained homeless for several weeks. Living off scavenging, sharing food, and whatever shelter they may find in the large city of New Meridian, with their parasites by their sides.

This not only healed them from their past rivalry. It strengthened both Fukua and Filia, and the sibling relationship that they eventually formed along the way through. But not long after weeks of living in the streets together, and seeing each other as siblings, the two were eventually found by Big Band. Brought them to Lab 8. Gave them food, shelter, and a place to call home among the other homeless, rescued refugees. This even gave way to a reunion for Painwheel, Filia's best friend. Unfortunately, the poor girl, Filia, has memory loss issues. But Fukua remained by her side.

Perhaps, this is a story that Fukua and Shamone could tell future refugees of Lab 8... The story of how they were once souls of their own individualities, forced into cloned bodies of Filia and Samson, tried not only twice to replace them for their identities but came to their senses then fought, and defeated the Skullgirl, and destroyed the Skull Heart. All the way to the conclusion of them both, especially Fukua, accepting their fate to live on with their new purpose. And eventually becoming their own persons with their own individualities - As Fukua and Shamone.