Yuyu
Didn't know where I was. Somewhere red. Appeared to be a room. Could hear noise as it was being moved. Maybe not a room? Uncertain.
Was… Lost. Others were in the room. Wanted to talk to them, ask questions, gather information. Impossible. Tried to move limbs. Unable to. Couldn't feel body. Numb.
Red… Reverted back to amorphous at last? Possible. Was able to think in current state. Sudden fear. Frozen, but can think? Eternal? No friends at school bad enough. Even if unintentional hurt, was able to talk. Tried to breathe. Couldn't. But can think… Alive? Am conscious at least… somehow. Tried to move eyes. Couldn't. Only red visible. Was sitting… I think. Edges of vision suggested others here. Could see shoes. Not alone… But might as well be. Can't talk.
Could hear a voice. Muffled. As if hearing someone speak through series of doors next to each other. Speech… but words difficult to understand. Was trying hard to listen. Difficult.
Then a sudden voice.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Not clear, but familiar… Wanted to see. Tried to turn head. Body strained. Tense. Almost as if solid… But wasn't. View changed slightly. Twitched towards voice. Movement possible. Difficult, but possible. Tried to move rest of body. Wouldn't obey. Still as statue.
Talking again, but muffled. Different voices. Conversation? Not sure.
Noise stopped. Muffled speech suddenly louder, urgent. Saw pair of feet move. Tried to listen… Only heard some words, likely due to volume and close proximity "…Defective! …Destroyed!" Defective. Of course, destruction's imminent... Was definitely defective now. Not just bad arm this time, but whole body. Useless body. … "…Burn!" Heard that word too. Fire? Felt cold when reverting to amorphous. Would fire help? Unknown.
"Get back!" Familiar voice again, loud, but clear this time. Clear because directed to me? Possible. Knew that voice… Who…? Wanted to look again. Tried to turn head. Couldn't. Felt something roughly shove me to back of room.
BOOM. Muffled noise. As if hearing through water. New lighting in room. Not red. Not fire. Then what? Couldn't see clearly. Occupants of room got up. Feet at edge of vision disappeared from it completely. Attempted to move again. Thought foot twitched. ((Defective…)) No good. Am stuck here.
Saw a hand. Was placed on mine. Couldn't feel. "Let's go!" voice said again. Closer to me. Who…
Rushing, like water in pipes. Fire? Saw hand on mine tense. Knuckles turned white. Couldn't feel physical contact… But felt tiny spark in self, amid numbness. Sharp. Fear. Horrified by fire. Distant memories haunting person… Recognised voice that spoke at last. Yayaka! Underneath numbness, felt… happy.
Won't let Yayaka burn. Remembered promise I made to self. Noise of fire grew.
MOVE!
And this time… body obeyed. Leapt to feet, and ran for not-red. Couldn't feel Yayaka's grip on hand. Looked tight, but not certain would stay. Tugged her hand, and curled arm around her. Fell through the air. Ground was coming up, fast. Moved legs, adjusting for landing…
…Safe.
Yayaka worked herself away from me. Felt my arms drop. She looked at me for a while. Do you know who I am? Couldn't ask. No voice. Yayaka showed no recognition. She turned to look at world around. Was about to do the same, but suddenly unable to move again. Why? Irritating. Floor was green. Sky empty black, blue sheet. Saw… Toys? Uncertain.
Suddenly, noise. Blaring. Had a rhythm. Wasn't stopping. An alarm?
"Come on!" Yayaka said, taking my hand again. Could feel her panic. Ran towards sky. Saw block of yellow. Yayaka stopped. Heard faint 'thump'. Wall? Stopped walking and tilted head to side, trying to request information. No answer. Yayaka ran again, away from yellow and blue. More green and black was visible. Yayaka stopped sharply again. Looked around at world. I was unable to. Could see something new though, toys heading towards us. Looked ready to attack.
No warning, Yayaka moved again. Was dragged with her. Momentum of action turned me around. Facing same way as Yayaka. Both running. Origami cranes flew away, startled. Yayaka nearly missed a step as she saw 'DRY CLEAN ONLY' label on sky. Ran for a long time. Unknown how long.
Heard a faint voice. A large toy rocket crashed into the world, shaking it. Must have startled Yayaka. Heard her voice, faint. She let go of my hand. Under attack? Wanted to ask her, but couldn't… Couldn't move at all, not in contact with her. Thought legs wobbled. Balance failed. Fell into sitting position. Yayaka kept running. Felt… hurt. Don't leave me…
She turned back and looked at me. Spoke. Voice was muffled, but could understand. Able to lip read. "Come on! You wanna get destroyed?! Run with me!"
Last words were clear, able to understand without lipreading. Want to go with Yayaka! Found self able to move again. Yayaka started running again. Followed her. BOOM! World rumbled at feet. Another rocket? Was closer to me judging by impact. Under attack. Run with Yayaka. Ended up at her side. Wanted to stay there. More rockets thudded into land. Coming from above… But didn't see launchers. Wanted to look up, but couldn't. Through numbness, felt one hit left arm, where dark blue stripe was. Possible to catch? Tried to force wrist to react. Stiff, but moved. Dull feeling in hand. Edge of vision showed it being held. Must have made noise, Yayaka turned to look at me. She smirked. Turned to look up at black sky. Couldn't read her lips from the side. Would guess a sneer or insult.
Must have gotten someone's attention. World changed. Brick wall landed in front of us. Felt rumbles from behind. A trap.
Large stuffed animal thrown into 'room'. Had trouble standing. Big head tilted and wobbled. Lifted an arm as if to balance head. Blatant weak points: places where limbs met body. Damaging one leg could render enemy immobile, arms insufficient strength to allow for crawling. Aim for legs! Wanted to charge. Attack immediately. Couldn't. Had energy to move, but was trying to force against solid surface. Tried to force self as hard as possible… Rooted in place.
Sky changed during attempts to move. Got severely annoyed. Enemy distracted! Perfect time to strike! MOVE! Whole body was like useless arm. At least old arm could be moved, even if resulted in pain and uncontrollable tremors. This… was aggravating. ((I can fix it for you…))
A voice? Where? Wondered if enemy was talking. Possible. Bowed towards us. May have been silent. Could hear noise, possible vague speech, but no distinctive syllables. No lips to read. Wrong angle to see Yayaka's face.
Enemy spread arms out. Inviting a challenge? Anger. Mentally clenched fist and grit teeth. Could move it not stuck in useless defective form! Could destroy! WHY CAN'T I MOVE?! Cursed self for existing.
Blue sparks fizzled in air. Gathered around enemy. Unsure if lightning or fire. Could be either. Yayaka backed into me. Could feel fear from her. Want to save her! Tried to lift leg. Felt like solid stone. Tried to look down. Couldn't… But could see legs. Feet and up to knee entirely red. Hands and upper arms red. Not entirely amorphous… But unable to move… Body appeared to be made of wood. Left arm different colour, and dark blue stripe. Metal arm in melted sap. Remaining scrap of Yayaka's jacket on upper arm… Had been transformed by influence of world.
"Get down!" Heard Yayaka's voice clearly. Muted feeling of hands on side. Light pressure as was pushed out of the way as enemy with blue fire-aura ran at us. She saved me… But why? Am useless. ((You are a puppet for others to command… All you can do is follow orders.))
Not true! Can do more than follow orders!
((Then move by yourself.))
Concentrated. Tried to focus on just one limb. Couldn't feel it. Tried to mentally push. Shove. Anything, willing it to move… All attempts failed. Felt dejected. …Can't. Was lying on the floor still. May as well have been stuck to it. Couldn't even let go of rocket. Simple gesture impossible to act upon.
Thought Yayaka was talking. Heard a faint voice, words unclear until, "Get out of there!"
'Made to follow orders'… Can only act if Yayaka tells me to do something. Tried to move, and could. Head turned. Should make most of time I have. Stood up as quickly as possible. Could see enemy covered in blue fire aura from corner of vision. Joints still weak points, but unable to strike past aura. Need another solution. Looked at wooden scaffolding of stage, searching for weak points.
"…Get out of there!" Felt compelled to obey order. Moved away from scaffolding and went to brick wall far away from enemy, who was targeting me. Upon seeing brick, began to scan quickly. Solid wall… But a weakness: Hairline fracture on one brick, poorly patched into wall. Impact would upset entire structure. But how to destroy? Using hands more likely to result in damage to themselves rather than wall. Rocket in hands would lack velocity, even if thrown.
"MOVE YOUR ASS!" Yayaka screamed. Was a little surprised. Does she know who I am? Unlikely. Look different. But Yayaka is worried about me… Felt a little warm inside. Also, given me solution to problem: Use enemy's momentum in attacking me to break wall.
Got out of the way. Saw blue light crash into wall instant I had moved. Timing was luck more than anything. Had no real idea where enemy was in relation to me…
But plan worked.
Heard stifled sound, likely complaints, from enemy. Seemed dazed, unable to move. Was fine with that. Turned to look at Yayaka. Her eyebrows were raised as she spoke. Muffled, but could lip read now. "Okay, I gotta admit, that was a smart idea," she grinned at me. Felt embarrassment. Wanted to say it was luck… But was happy despite that. Wanted to grin back at her. Couldn't. Yayaka frowned. Thinking? Shook her head to clear it. "Let's go!" Voice was clear as order was given.
Followed Yayaka as she stepped through hole in brick. Faint voice came from behind, would guess from enemy. Yayaka turned to respond. Watched as her lips formed "screw you!" directed at enemy. Suddenly remembered rocket in hand. Enemy tried to burn Yayaka. While able to move, threw rocket at it. Made Yayaka smirk. Felt good seeing her happy like that. Both entered new space. Wanted to turn head for better look, but got stuck at angle. Was looking at void and Yayaka. Yayaka glanced around, before heading straight to wall on other side of this new room.
"Hey, can you bust through this wall?" Yayaka asked. Appeared to have taken in area already. Turned head so able to see wall she was talking about, and approached. Slowly scanned. Each brick identical in creation. No weaknesses available. Was likely reinforced. Double-checked. Turned to Yayaka and shook head. "What about the background?" Turned to look, and was surprised. Was expecting to see scaffolding, but none here. Area appeared more open, but place was occupied. Not by wood this time. Had flat musicians there on stands. Looked as if drawn on paper. All wearing suits, and equipped with different instruments. Felt left hand twitch involuntarily. If had old metal arm, could have said 'yes', but then would have to do as Yayaka told me… Would have to destroy… But I didn't want to do that. May only have been paper, may not be real, but music… I didn't want to destroy music.
Heard Yayaka's muffled voice, but unable to pick out words. Wanted to look at her, but had frozen again. Could just about make out her lips from corner of vision "…do I know you?"
Felt… something at those words. Not sure what. Sad she didn't know it was me? Happy she may have been recognising me? Felt something 'hit', but unable to identify emotion.
Loud muted voice from hole in wall. Enemy returned? Possible. Heard another noise, possibly machinery, but was too quiet to tell…
Then the stage got dark.
"Get down!" Heard Yayaka right next to me. Felt pressure on back, as was shoved forward.
BH-BHHM!
Was flat to ground. Looked like hard wood, but wobbled. Powerful shockwave. World was completely dark, until 'shadow' sat up. Appeared to be large robotic dog. Floor not damaged under point of impact. Noticed something else, too. Noise in background. Unable to determine what.
Faint voices. Volume high, but couldn't understand. Conversation? Argument? Unknown. Felt vibrations and robot dog rose to ceiling. More muffled conversation. Couldn't see speakers. Head wouldn't move. Wanted to push self up from floor. Unable. Got annoyed with self. Stage appeared to get shadowy again. Felt faint pressure. Was moved slightly. Pushed again? Likely conclusion.
BH-BHHM!
Dog crashed to stage. Felt something come into contact with feet. Ground underneath rippled violently. Wondered about properties of floor in this world. Hadn't broken from impact. May not be able to break from impact… But if it could…
Watched Yayaka's shadow move as she rose. Appeared to flinch, as if realising something. Quickly, she grabbed my left arm, and pulled. No order given, so couldn't move. Tried to will legs to move. No reaction. Solid as lead. Irritation. Was able to stand, but nothing else. Defective… Unable to move of own free will… but… Yayaka willing to save me. Take me out of danger despite uselessness…
Heard noise, like dull pop of balloon. World highlighted orange briefly. Looked at Yayaka, framed by black void. She watched dog intently. Purple eyes firey. May not know true identity, but is trying to keep me out of danger. Doesn't want me damaged or hurt, even if am just a puppet in this world. Kind, caring Yayaka…
Heard faint thuds. Ground shook again. Jumping? Multiple impacts? Couldn't see dog, unable to determine actions. Dog's shadow rose. Left area. Muffled conversation followed. Could see side of Yayaka's mouth move. Unable to determine speech from this angle. Heard replies. Previous enemy survived? Possible. Just a stuffed animal. Yayaka turned to me. "Any ideas?"
Thought. If could turn head, could see if ground unstable from multiple heavy impacts. Edge of vision showed wooden ground still intact. Other ideas? Thought about it. Yayaka has weapons. Rockets and wires. Wanted to motion to Yayaka's hips to remind her. Unable. Was practically a statue. Unable to communicate. Felt anger. Useless, defective body won't respond. Tried desperately to force movement. Yayaka seemed aware of long silence. Changed question. "Have you got any special powers? Or weapons?"
MOVE! Kept willing self to react. MOVE! REACT! DO SOMETHING! Anger increased. MOVE! ((Stuck are you? I can help with that…))
Head suddenly tilted to side. Action so unexpected, would have thought neck had snapped with speed it happened. Am a puppet. No neck. Faint feeling hand was moving too. Tried to force it to react. To point at Yayaka's weapon belt. No response. Effort appeared to be having effect on body. Saw black smoke from arm. Seemed… familiar. Shadow fell over smoke before could pinpoint where previously seen.
"DOWN!" Yayaka ordered, pushing me down again.
The land shook… but not as much. Heard loud noise. One word. Could hear it, "OUCH!" As soon as dog appeared, it jumped back up into the air. Odd. Yayaka grabbed my hand again. Pulled me along with her. Stopped when reached previous enemy, who appeared to be embedded in the floor. Observed area around enemy while Yayaka pulled parts off of it. Cracks stretched along ground, like small lightning bolts. Floor destructible. Would be weakest here.
Large shadow falling from above.
"Over here!" Yayaka said. Long robotic limbs in hands. Hearing an order, was able to act on own, and run with Yayaka to brightly lit part of stage. Constant background noise from earlier was louder. Looked up… and slowed down.
Music! The noise was music! Paper orchestra's arms flickered, like 2-frame animation. Rising notes! Fast notes! Differing pitches! Unable to decipher exactly piece, but would guess classical. Energetic at least. Annoyed couldn't hear it properly in current state, but music! Wanted to stay and listen. Wanted to take Yayaka's hand and show her.
Yayaka. Remembered: under attack. Was lost in music. Turned head… tried to. Motion was very slow… But possible. Because near music? Unknown. Saw toys from earlier on stage now, and saw dog jump into air. Yayaka held two robot arms taken from previous enemy, ready to attack… Seemed to un-ready. Suddenly turned to me. Took arm, and held up robotic arm with loose wire and drill head. Tied wire around my arm. Gave me a weapon.
Toys, looked like clowns on unicycles, wheeled over to us. Two leapt at Yayaka. Wanted to run and help her. Limbs felt like they would respond… But was far too slow to move. Could barely take a step with stiff, heavy leg, when three clowns attacked.
Two latched onto legs. Saw sharp teeth glint in the light. They sank into my legs, on the red parts. Couldn't feel. Was thankful this time I couldn't feel. Third clown slapped hands against ground, and pounced. Needle-thin teeth sank into shoulder. Felt… something. Not pain. Saw patch of red leaking from where it bit me. Blood? Or… amorphous? Likely the latter. No longer seem to bleed… as if no longer alive. ((You are amorphous. A rock. Rocks aren't alive.))
But I exist.
((You are aware. Not alive. You are a power source. You were made to assist Yayaka. She and Nyunyu have used you to transform. That's the only reason why you're here. They don't like you, only your power, and one day, your power will run out…))
"Why aren't you fighting them?" Yayaka's voice broke into thoughts. Her enemies were defeated. She tried to walk over to me. Ended up tripping and falling. Pained expression on face. Likely made a noise too, but couldn't hear if did. Watched as her lips moved. "You don't need to follow orders all the time, you can act on your own, too!"
Act… on my own? Was that an order? Tried to move. Thought I could feel… something. Wasn't sure. Enemies attacking me jumped off at sound of Yayaka's voice and went over to her. Watched as she tried to move and use weapon belt. Right arm functional. Left bleeding at shoulder, shaking violently. Managed to hit one clown with grappling wire. Yayaka unable to attack others in time. They bit her, with sharp teeth. Heard Yayaka curse. Saw her try and shake her arms to remove clowns. Getting weaker. Need to help her. ((Why?))
Tried to ignore voice. Wanted to get to Yayaka. Tried to lift leg… Surprised it was actually possible. I can move. Limbs were stiff, and speed was slow, but was able to walk towards Yayaka. Saw her lips moving.
Was odd. Hard to hear things in world before, but now… "…Yuyu, I'm so sorry… I should have sent you home…" Was easier. Could hear her voice more clearly. Body starting to feel different… softer. Not as solid. Looked down at hand. Saw wood pattern thinning. Almost melting away, as fingers were revealed. Red on one hand, amber-stained white on the other. Although appeared to be returning to original self, movement was still difficult. Likely due to crystalisation. Hands and feet were heavy. Took effort to move. But can move now.
Looked up again and saw clown tearing at Yayaka's armour, where previously repaired. Grew angry. You will not hurt Yayaka! Ran to her. Wooden feet becoming Flip Flap boots. Reached Yayaka. Grabbed each clown in turn and punched them with metal arm on the nose, their weak point. Sufficient damage caused. Clowns ballooned and burst into colour. Destroyed. Anger partially satisfied, but as looked down at Yayaka… grew worried. Hurt to look at her. Can only imagine pain she was in right now.
Carefully, tried to put arm around her. Avoided injured side. Had to bring her head close to my ear. Have to know she's breathing.
Got more than expected.
"You have a heart…" Yayaka mumbled, exhausted. Voice was next to my ear. Could hear it clearly. As she said it, became aware of the thumping in my chest. I have a heart. I can feel it beating. Wanted to hug Yayaka tightly in that moment… But would hurt her if I did. Didn't want to hurt her.
Never quite saw self as a self… But Yayaka… was starting to change that.
"Yayaka… You softie." Doubted she could hear me, but I said it out loud anyway. Felt warmth near my chest. Necklace taking shape as wooden body faded. Need to get Yayaka somewhere safe. Reached into belt pockets. Clawed out ration bars, and found Hole device. Have to send her back alone. Will follow later. Tried to set coordinates. Difficult with drill arm attached to mine. Would remove, but might need it. Yayaka more important.
Set coordinates for Asclepius base, and threw to ground. Black circle opened up on stage. Lowered Yayaka into it carefully. Please land safely… Tried to keep metal arm connected to her, to try and aid return to Earth.
Suddenly, stage grew dark. Not just because of Hole. Turned around, looking up. Saw shadow falling again. 'Why aren't you fighting them?' 'You don't need to follow orders all the time, you can act on your own too!' 'You have a heart'.
Yayaka would want me to save myself. Heard noise as Hole whooshed shut. Yayaka safe. Immediately made a move for light part of stage, out of range of enemy. Floor is damaged. Remembered previous observation. Looked at drill arm Yayaka equipped me with. Small smirk. Perfect weapon to further damage floor.
DO-DOOM!
Ground shook as dog landed. Able to keep balance. Went to remove drill arm from being tied around real arm… felt shoulder move, but couldn't see metal arm. Should have been moved into line of sight. Looked at shoulder.
Metal arm gone. Must have been severed when Hole closed when sending Yayaka back home. Couldn't feel loss at all. Need another way to remove drill.
Dog had turned to face me as I crouched and lowered real arm, attempting to use feet to remove wire.
"You two have—" Looked up. Dog spoke. Was correct about possible conversations after all. Could hear dog clearly. Appeared to be holding ball attached to string in its mouth. Looked around, confused. Then glared. "Where did your friend go? And… What happened to you? You were a puppet before."
Head tilted to side, response to confusion. Dog recognises me despite new appearance… ((Yayaka didn't… She doesn't care about you as much as you think…))
Clenched fist in anger. Couldn't feel fingers against hand. "Friend is safe." Answered that question with normal voice. May be true… But that doesn't stop me caring about her. She was kind. She let me listen to music… Realised as I was able to hear, the music was clear now, and not just noise. Violins. Trumpets… and piano, all playing 'the nutcracker'. Yayaka is like music. Makes me feel alive… Like I am human. Put clenched fist over my heart. Amorphous necklace rested over the top of it. Warmth grew into intense heat. Although hand was amorphous, could feel it in my mostly-amorphous arm and legs. I could feel it, all the way down to my fingers and toes.
"I am not a puppet anymore."
Yayaka saved me from drowning. She's saved my life.
The amorphous around my neck began to glow.
"I am human."
She took us to the arcade for a day of fun.
My numb limbs began to glow, casting an aura of red light.
"I have a heart…"
And she was one of few people who treated me that way…
As if there was wind, strands of silver hair blew in my face, growing into longer strands of copper.
"My friend's name is Yayaka…"
She may not have known mine in this world, but that doesn't matter…
Where my metal arm should have been, there was… a sensation. I found myself able to move a newly formed crystal arm. I caught a reflection of my eyes, and saw they were a gentle lavender. Just like hers'…
"…and I treasure her more than anything."
Power of amorphous and thinking of someone important… The two things Toto said you needed to transform…
Along with the magic words:
"Flip… FLAPPING!"
Authors note:I sorta ended up turning Yuyu deaf this chapter… Well, in a puppet form, she wouldn't have ears, but I hadn't quite planned for that to happen, it just sorta happened while writing. It's been a bit odd to write this one, when it came to writing the speech,. My mum's deaf, so I tried to imagine how she would hear things (or not hear them) when writing Yuyu's parts this chapter. Yayaka's orders, which are heard clearly regardless of direction she's facing and not lipread are in bold to try and show what Yuyu has been able to hear without trouble before she reverted back to normal.
Also, I apologise if this chapter seems kinda messy or unclear. I didn't quite want to re-write the ENTIRE thing from Yuyu's POV, but I wanted to make it a bit clearer/point out a few things people may have missed in Yayaka's version of the chapter that were hints of Puppet's identity (although some of you had probably guessed the truth).
Also, I realise, this is probably the only time in the whole of my two big Flip Flappers fics where I've had a world ending up having a character influenced by the world in the form of a physical transformation… And as you can see, not just a physical transformation like that!
I debated adding more to the chapter, but I felt that was a good place to leave it, even though it means it'll be kinda short compared to other ones. From now on, chapters may be a little slow to upload as I'm still trying to work out where things are going exactly, just to let you know.
