-Chapter Three: Now hold on let me finish (I'm not saying perfect exists in this life)-

When Bad finally reached the sun - kissed grass of the valley, he knew it was finally time to just sort of… let it go. Of course he wasn't ready to let loose his emotions and spill it into the ground, but he'll start with something small.

Like telling Techno.

And that meant crossing the bright sun. But hopefully he'll approach the mountains soon, where it's all mainly clouds and snow. He can handle the cold.

He heaved his bag up higher on his shoulder, a habit of his before he faced something he didn't really want to face. Another thing the smaller had pointed out. He always was one for details. Or he was just plain nosy.

Bad didn't mind either way.

Steeling his nerves, he puffed up his chest and placed a foot into the sun. He half - expected his foot to burn at the ankle, then fall off like a limp tick.

But it never did.

Warmth crept up his leg, and he smiled a bit. This is what the sun felt like? It felt… gratifying. Too bad he never listened to the smaller one when he had tried to coax him out of the shadow.

Perhaps it had been the many years in a prison that made him this way.

So stepping out… it freed him.

~--~

Skeppy swallowed back a gasp, trying to refrain from staring at the prisoner. No, Bad. His friend, to some extent. He glanced over at his father, who was practically steaming at the ears. This was not going to end well.

Bad raised his head, only staring at the king. Skeppy couldn't help but feel guilty. He couldn't help the demon in time. What if Bad starts hating him and then he won't ever talk to him again and then Skeppy would lose his only friend -

Well, I mean, it seems like he's about to get executed. So it sort of all ends the same.

Bad's eyes glittered dangerously, the green becoming a little more prominent. "I've already told you, I didn't murder anyone." The king hissed. "You shall address me as Your Majesty, spawn from the Nether."

Bad gritted his teeth. "Not if you won't listen to reason!" he yelled.

The king slammed his hands against the table, sending a wave of shock through the room. Skeppy shivered. "I want him executed at once!" his father screamed. The man with the stuffy air cleared his throat. "Your Excellency, we must do a trial before we announce anythi - "

"I don't care about that, Clarence, I want him GONE! Forever, he should be sent back to where he was born!" The room cracked into intense whispering, as if they agreed with their king.

Skeppy stood up, eyes closed and perhaps the closest thing to calm (or at least he was trying to be). "Father… Your Majesty. I agree that we should at least hold this trial before jumping to conclusions."

His father glared at him, sending daggers his way. But Skeppy didn't back down, just stared at his father coolly. It was better than seeing Bad's expression, which could very well be one of betrayal.

The king huffed before sitting back down, twining his fingers together and placing them in front of him. "Very well. Bring out the cold water."

Skeppy sat back down as well, risking a glance at the demon. He was blinking gratefully at Skeppy, and he seemed a bit more hopeful and warmer than he was before. But soon that would leave him. Trial by cold water…

A couple of guards hurried in, carrying a huge cauldron filled with the ice - cold liquid. They tripped several times, almost spilling it, but they eventually placed it safely in the middle of the room. The people sitting closest to it edged away, as to stay away from the spray that would come.

Two other guards grabbed Bad, guiding him over to the cauldron. He struggled for a minute before letting them hold him firm near the rim, ready to flip him over. He was about the size of the guards, so that would make him easier to move.

Skeppy could see Bad gulp nervously as he looked down at the water, his reflection rippling. Skeppy wanted to go forward and comfort the demon, but he stayed in his seat, fidgeting. His father looked over at him curiously before turning back to the trial at hand.

"And…

"Dunk."

The guards thrust Bad into the cauldron, taking him by surprise and giving him little to no time to get a gulp of air. He thrashed in the water for a moment, before growing still. A jolt of terror ran through Skeppy, and he clutched the table like it was his life force.

Trial by cold water was a test to see if you were innocent. If you sank, you were considered free of charge. But if you floated…

He watched for a bit, and the body of Bad refused to sink.

The guards grabbed him out of the water and threw his half - limp body to the floor. The people nearest to him screamed and scrambled away, like he would suddenly levitate and kill everyone on the spot.

The king looked, in a way, triumphant as he watched Bad shudder, trying to gain his bearings. His hood hung limp off of his head now, sodden and wet. Skeppy wanted so badly to go over and demand some new clothes, but that was pitiful, especially for a prince.

Bad looked more pitiful in this form.

"He's guilty! He's guilty!" exclaimed the king, banging the table with his fist. He was bound to get bruises because of how hard he was hitting it. "He's guilty."

The stuffy man tutted, sort of mockingly. "I suppose you're right, Your Majesty. He is, in fact, guilty."

Skeppy's father smiled, and Bad raised his head. All the green from his eyes were gone, just like hope. Skeppy narrowed his eyes. There was no way in HECK that Bad was guilty. Skeppy didn't know how he could prove it, but he needed to do something.

Something…

Confidence surged through him, and before he knew it, he had jumped up, run past the table and over to Bad, then grabbed his arm and dragged him up. He had no idea where the sudden strength came from, but it had to be adrenaline.

Bad yelped in surprise, getting up with a fumble and following behind as Skeppy led the way out the room. He didn't stay long enough to see the chaos, but the voices explained it all as they shouted and screamed. "Traitor!" one bellowed, and Skeppy flinched at the word.

Was he really risking his life for the creature he had randomly met in the dungeons?

...Maybe.

It didn't take long for Bad to become a panting mess as he was still trying to catch his breath from the water. Skeppy as well was breathing heavily. He had never run so far and so fast! Walls whipped past them, and Skeppy swore he could hear clanging footsteps behind him.

He dared to look over his shoulder, and immediately regretted it. Almost the whole of the room was chasing him, plus a couple guards probably following along the way. Skeppy couldn't see his father, but the group was such a writhing mass of people with imaginary pitchforks it seemed pretty much impossible even if the king was coming along.

Or maybe he just doesn't want to ruin his robes, like every other king known to man. Skeppy thought with a huff, this time of exasperation.

The guards shouted for him to stop, but Skeppy just went faster, making Bad stumble. "Skep -" He yelped suddenly, making Skeppy almost trip over his feet trying to turn and see what happened.

One of the guards had seized Bad's tail, yanking him back by it. Bad was still holding tight to Skeppy's hand, and was using his other to smack the guard away. The soldier ducked, trying to escape the claws.

"Leave him alone!" Skeppy demanded, and out of habit the guard let go, staring wide - eyed at the prince. Skeppy's eyes widened when he noticed who it was. "Spifey?" he stammered. "I - I'm -"

"Get him out of here. I'll stall them." Spifey interrupted, not quite looking Skeppy in the eye. Skeppy let out a whispered thank - you before leading Bad forward again, down another different hall.

Spifey was yelling behind him, telling the guards they ran to the outside. Skeppy took Bad even further into the castle, which was the exact opposite of what both males wanted, and Bad voiced it.

"Skeppy, why are we heading in deeper?" Bad asked, starting to sound suspicious. "We're going - out the back. Trust me. You've - followed me this far." Skeppy panted, keeping his eyes glued in front of him.

Bad reluctantly followed, his breathing becoming easier for whatever reason. Skeppy instantly felt jealous.

Finally they reached the other end of the castle in what seemed like hours, each breath a painful scrape in Skeppy's lungs. As soon as he found a window, he didn't hesitate to jump to it, ramming his shoulder into it.

And bouncing off the surface.

That didn't go as planned.

Skeppy rubbed his head, embarrassed as he looked at Bad. The demon looked like he was trying hard to hide back a laugh. "Well can't you do something?" Skeppy demanded hotly.

Bad nodded, then rammed into the glass himself. This time the clear surface shattered, and Bad had the mind to not turn back and gloat about it. Skeppy picked himself up and jumped outside, almost tumbling into Bad.

They kept running, Skeppy noticeably getting slower. Bad eventually stopped near a stump, looking over at Skeppy worryingly.

They did it. They were far from the castle.

Far from his kingdom.

Skeppy threw himself to the ground, gasping for air. Each breath was painful, and his ribs felt like they would shatter after each inhale. Bad just stood there in the shadows, looking around. Finally Skeppy caught his breath, attempting to sit up.

He opened his mouth to say something, maybe demand some gratitude or something, but Bad beat him to it. "You can go back, you know."

Skeppy sat there mouth agape. "What do you mean?" God. His voice was so raspy.

"Go back to your kingdom. I'm sure you can think of some silly little story and gain their respect back. And forget about me."

Why did that last sentence sort of hurt?

What if I don't want to forget about you?

Where did THAT come from?!

Skeppy made sure to hold his tongue until he got control of his thoughts again.

"Sure. I can." Skeppy said. Bad looked back at him. "Then go."

Skeppy hesitated. Was he really ready to get rid of this part of himself? This adrenaline, this feeling of freedom? This… friend?

No.

"Can we meet again?"