The waking world doll sits, lifeless, while the Hunter broods pensively. Certainly, he has to be the only one to have ever dealt with a situation like this. Two women, inexorably linked, with the same appearance and many of the same mannerisms, both vying for his attention. The Hunter loves the Doll, no question. But Maria...

The Hunter sighs. "I bet you never thought you'd have to deal with this," he says to the lifeless doll. "Sometimes, I wish I would be like you used to be. Quiet, emotionless, content... Not a care in the world." The doll doesn't reply. She never has.

The Hunter leans forward, gently picking up the doll and cradling it. It is cold; It's body is hard, not pliant like his Doll. He feels a gentle wiggling at his stomach, looking down to see her finger... Moving?!

He quickly sets it down, startled. His Doll had done the same thing, but that was in the dream... How could...?

Insight. Insight is all. Insight shall turn the most foolish of men into the progenitor of a new age. Magic turns into logic, and logic turns into trivial knowledge.

The Hunter closes his eyes, thinking hard. The Doll would have sprung forth as she was, as an adult. No amount of insight from a Great One would turn an infant into an adult. But if she were formed from someone else, a personality split apart, she would harbor many of the same traits. Maria resided in the nightmare, while the Doll would reside in the dream. What would happen with the two in the same realm?

There is no doubt that they both have changed since meeting each other. The Doll has become more hot-tempered and passionate, Maria, affectionate and easygoing. Maria could leave the dream, so couldn't the Doll do the same? With both in the waking world, what would happen to them, once free of the Great One's influence? The Hunter steels himself. The hunt can't last forever. Eventually, the beasts will overrun the townspeople, killing all. He can't let that happen.

Ending the hunt would mean ending the Dream, and the Doll with it. So he just has to take her with him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The chilly air of the dream shimmers, and the Hunter stands at the foot of the gravestone. The Doll rests at the foot of the stairs as usual, while Maria sits on the ledge above the messenger bath, play-fighting Adam with model saw cleavers.

The Hunter approaches the Doll. "Good Hunter." She greets him tersley, her head still bowed.The Hunter smiles. Nothing could put him in a bad mood now. He walks up to her, placing his hands on her face and lifting it up, planting a kiss right on her lips. Her eyes go wide as he slips a tongue in, only to narrow, clearly angered by his disregard of her feelings. Her resistance doesn't last long, however, as the Hunter wraps his arms around her, deepening the kiss. Her face heats up, and her eyelids flutter, all strength leaving her as she submits to the pleasure.

Finally, the Hunter pulls back, beaming. "Karina, let's leave this place."

The Doll frowns. "good Hunter, I cannot leave. My body can move only in the dream."

"With my insight," the Hunter replies. "With enough insight, you should be able to live in the waking world! When I was away, I found your waking world body, and it's finger was moving, just like yours before I gained insight."

"I-I, I do not know, good Hunter..."

He takes her hands in his. "We could go anywhere we want! We could go home, to my home, or the mountains, or anywhere in the world! With insight and the Great One's power, we could even get you a body!"

The Doll looks up, hope in her eyes. "A body? My own body?" The Hunter nods.

"Please," he whispers. "I want so much more for you." He presses his forehead to hers, staring into her eyes. The Doll looks as if she is about to cry, but she shakes her head and gives a shaky giggle.

"You can't fool me, good Hunter," she says.

"You just want to do naughty things to me, don't you?"

The Hunter laughs, hugging her tighter. "All. Night. Long." They both laugh, staring into each others eyes. Maria gives a noise of disgust, equal parts repulsed and envious. Adam mimes a gag.

"Well, shall we?" The Hunter asks.

She nods. "I have never had need nor want to leave, so I have never tried... But if what you say is true, then there is nothing stopping me."

"Don't forget me," Maria chimes in. "If you think you can just gallavant off with my friend wrapped around your little finger, then think again, dolly."

The Doll continues holding the Hunter not even acknowledging her. Maria's eye twitches. Being someone's other half means you really know how to push their buttons.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The three unusual companions stand at the foot of the Yharnam gravestone. "Ready?" Asks the Hunter.

"Ready."

"Ready." The two platinum blond beauties reply simultaneously. With their slavic accents and voices the same, hearing them both talk at the same time is rather unsettling.

"Alright. One... Two... Three!"

With the two women on either side of him, they touch the grave as the air shimmers and whisks the trio away.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Hunter stands, the air tainted with the faint scent of blood and mayhem. Yep, they're in Yharnam, all right. He looks around. Maria lays on the ground, groaning. A spike of fear runs through the Hunter as he realizes he doesn't see the Doll.

"Maria! Maria!" He shakes the tall tomboy awake. "Where is Karina? What happened!?"

"Right here. Are you quite alright, good Hunter?" Maria replies.

"Now is not the time for impressions," the Hunter snarls.

"Impressions..?" Maria says quizzically. She looks down at herself. "Good Hunter, did you put me in these horrendous,

man-ish clothes?" She reaches out to touch them, gasping as she looks at her fingers. "Flesh..." She whispers, rubbing her hands together slowly.

"K-Karina?" The Hunter whispers.

"Good Hunter... Is this Maria's...?"

The Doll's expression jerks, and her brows furrow.

"Yes. Yes it is." She says tersley. "And I'll thank you not to insult my clothes."

A.N. After defeating Maria in the game, the Doll has dialogue asking if she has changed. I like to think that that was Maria joining with her, so I decided to add it. Thanks to TheTalonKing f or giving me the kick in the pants I needed to start up again!