"So, Demon meat… Actually, I can get behind that." Jenny said as we were heading towards one of the still in tact Meat Factories spawned in this zone. "It's not bad. Been making jerky out of Imps for a while. Little garlic salt and beer to marinade before smoking, tastes great."
I had to wipe my mouth of some drool cause that did legit sound really great. "Alright…then we have to start making a survival guide, writing down what the area is, taking pictures and documenting all the monsters…oh boy." I sighed. "Gotta lot of work on our hands right now."
"Honestly, sounds better than the hours or just looking down a scope taking pop shots at the demons." Jenny chuckled as she drove her motorcycle down the road. "Been kinda boring the last few years. About time we had something happen to get us to work." She smirked, riding up a ramp made of uplifted road, her tires hitting an Imp Demon right in the head before they touched pavement and kept going. "So, Casey is pregnant? Damn, I'm almost jealous."
"Yeah, Casey's pregnant…and why would you be almost jealous?"
"Well, first you had your kids, now Casey is gonna have a litter. Kinda makes me wish there was a little mini of my own and Casey's. Or yours. At this point I love you as much as them and I'm not picky about who the father will be so long as it's one of you. Or both. That would be cool, and adorable… also my hips that fusion of you two is hot and hung."
I blushed, remembering my Legendary Ability lets me do that… and yes… yes we are in that form…
"I mean…if you want me to get you knocked up right now that's fine." I offered slowly.
"Heh, as nice as that sounds Heather I'd rather do that in a safer place. I might be an adrenaline junkie but I am not crazy enough to fuck in the middle of a place like this… at least, not without a few drinks first~" She chuckled. "Remember that first date of ours in that zombie arena dungeon back on Dechamore? That was forever ago huh?"
"Oh god, that was forever ago." I groaned. "I'm just…hoping I don't feel old because of that, or the kids don't somehow tell me something that makes me disintegrate."
"One thing I do know is that kids will make you feel old regardless." Jenny chuckled. "Their very existence reminds you that you existed before them. You are and will always be older than them."
"I know, but they'll make me feel old. Like, I don't want to get told that one of my kids found an 'ancient saying' and then hear 'Poggers'...that would literally murder me." I whined.
"Oh, oh then you do not want to know what I heard Amy did."
"What did Amy do?" I groaned.
"She was going through some of the stuff we brought on a loot run and asked me what a small black box was… It was a VHS tape. I had to explain to her what it was and how it worked and she just looked at it like it was some kind of alien technology." Jenny chuckled.
…
…
"Ahh~!" I screamed as I used an invisibility ability I managed to snag from a demon roaming around to act like I just vanished into the ether, my voice echoing from the pain I just experienced from what I just heard.
"Oh knock it off." Jenny chuckled. "While VHS is still made and used for preference off Armageddon, all the VHS media here is spawned loot. Are you really surprised?"
"I'm told that VHS is 'alien technology'! How can I not act like that?" I asked, coming back to visibility. "I have sustained a lot of psychic damage from that."
"Hey, I was the one there, not you. Pretty sure if you were there you'd have fainted."
"Yes…yes I would have." I groaned.
The rest of the ride was spent with me groaning at my age being the new old now that I'm a mom.
We eventually arrived at the large spawned meat factory. There were demons, as expected. Once Jenny stopped the bike I got off and pulled out Ol' Reliable and she brought out her twin Deagals.
"So, want to keep count of our kills or just have at it?"
"Let's just have at it. But let's try and keep them as close to whole as possible. We're gonna need to stock." She smirked.
"Alright." I nodded. "Let's get us some demon meat."
Most of the demons here were basic. I cut them down and Jenny blasted their heads off as we cleared the outside.
Once that was cleared and their bodies were stored away we opened the cargo door to get inside. More demons greeted us and we baited most of them out, and once that was done Jenny went inside and finished off the rest. We collected the bodies and their drops and looked around what was to be our new factory.
"Slaughter room, giant meat hooks, huge freezers, wrapping and plenty of packaging too." Jenny said as we looked around. "This place is really nice."
"Oh yeah, this is a really nice place." I nodded.
"All the machinery is here too. Nothing looks damaged, this is gonna be perfect. We should have enough magic to store it."
"Yes we do, and this will be a good start for everything." I said honestly. "Never thought I'd be setting up a meat shop…"
"To be fair you also never imagined you'd be living on Armageddon of all places." Jenny added as we walked out of the building.
"That's…also true…" I sighed, walking along out of the building with her. "But at least we're getting some form of normalcy here."
"Yeah." Jenny said. She began the process of storing the building into the Assistant. It took about fifteen minutes and once that was done, we began heading out.
Once we got home, setting up the building and attaching it to the water and power we have here was easy. Once we did, others took over checking things over and making sure everything worked.
I went back out to get stock. I was accompanied by someone I haven't seen in a while. Plory. The griffoness has been living here with us for the last ten or so years and mostly works either security along the wall or helping on the farms. Her kids were growing up nicely at least.
"So, do we have a quota?" She asked as we walked out the main gate of the walls.
"Um…I don't know." I said honestly. "With how excited Omega was, I think just shoving as much demon meat into the market as physically possible would be what they want."
"Fair." She said, checking her revolver.
Oh… this is awkward… Since she arrived I've gotten the feeling she doesn't like me… we've rarely talked and while she's nice to my kids, who play with hers often, she rarely talks to or looks at me.
I sighed. "Alright…do you hate me?" I asked, wanting to get this over with instead of having this just be awkward nonsense constantly.
"... Hate is a bit strong. Mostly, I just dislike you." She said as we walked out the gate and onto the road outside the artificial safe zone.
"Why do you dislike me?" I inquired.
"I'm jealous." She admitted, which surprised me.
"Jealous? Why would you be jealous?"
"When you got here, you had your whole family with you. When I got here, it was just me and my eggs. I just got my birth mother back, things in my life back home were chaotic but I was happy. Now, my boyfriend and father of my kids, no idea. My mothers, no idea, my home planet… no idea." She huffed. "To make it worse, I was on a mission to find a way to fight and imprison the apocalypse bringer War… and for all I know everyone back home is dead now… You got here and lost nothing. I got here and lost almost everything." She said as we walked.
"Yeah…it…it really sucks…" I sighed. "I'm sorry you lost so much…but the Time Walkers, a group of people that overlook all of Time and other really important things…they said that there is a way to get you back home, and even though they were vague as shit about it…"
"And let me guess, no one has ever figured it out?" She asked. I just… sighed. "Figures."
"Listen, this reality is big, like, unfathomably big. I think Homeworld, one of the two largest planets in our Existence…I think only like, a Quarter of it has ever been mapped out by the Scout's Guild?" I said, trying to remember how much they mapped out.
"I don't care." She said. "So what? It's big, whatever point you're trying to make, just stop. Until you feel how helpless, how lost, and how unfathomably pissed you feel upon losing basically everything you've cared about and will probably never know if your loved ones are dead or alive, don't try and give me sympathy or pity. You have your family, not just your kids, this reality is still in the end your home. Deadly planet aside, this is still your home. I shouldn't even be here. Your kids get to know their father, their grandparents… mine won't. Call me pissy or that I'm being negative or whatever makes you feel better, I just don't care. Only thing I want is to work to earn my keep and keep my chicks happy. Your happiness is irrelevant to me."
That… stung… Especially given she was… right about what I was thinking while she ranted…
"Still want to make sure you and your kids are okay." I answered. "All I can say…just don't be an asshole about it. You're here with your kids, and me and everyone else wants to make sure you and your kids are also safe. If you don't want sympathy or pity, sure, whatever. It's better to at least be on at least some positive terms than burning bridges in this hellhole."
Plory sighed, still looking forwards but stopping and taking a seat. "Would you?" She asked. "If tomorrow, you lost your loves, your parents, everything you built just… gone and you couldn't do anything about it, or even know why or how it happened… would you not also be stuck feeling… pissed at everything?"
She stood back up and began walking…
I… I can't even imagine that… I'd… I hated when Casey went through gun training for fucks sake… losing… them…
I sighed… I wouldn't know what to do… I'd just… lose my mind…
I sighed again, hating this a lot and not really knowing what to do.
We walked in silence for a while, finally coming up on some demons. Immediately, Plory brought up her revolver, spread her wings and flew, flying over them and shooting them from above.
A few larger ones came out and I pulled out Ol' Reliable and got fighting. The larger demons would get us much more product.
We slaughtered a small hoard and I began collecting the bodies while Plory collected the ammunition.
"Hm, what's this?" I looked over at Plory, who was holding a small red fire gem.
"Oh, that's a Fire Gem." I said. "You can do a lot of things with it, put it onto your gun and have it shoot fire bullets, put it onto your armor and gain fire resist, or you can absorb it and be able to use Fire magic." I explained readily.
"Huh. Alright." She said, tossing it to me and went back to getting bullets.
I gently caught the gem and looked it over, wanting to see if this was just an ordinary fire gem or something else cause first glance can be deceiving sometimes.
From what I could see, it was a fairly normal Fire Gem, smaller than the normal but that's fine really. They usually still pack a big punch.
I stored it away and went back to collecting the bodies.
We fought several hoards before we started heading home. I was still feeling like shit given what Plory said… I wonder…
"Heather!"
Huh? I looked around… swear I heard… was that?
"Heather!" That voice… Katsuki? I finally turned and spotted them, the blonde Time Walker was running down the road towards me at full speed- oh shit! The impact knocked the wind out of me and possibly bruised some bones, but she was hugging me and thankfully not snapping me in two. "There's my favorite shark!"
"H-hey Katsuki, what, how and why are you here?" I asked, giving her a hug but still wincing. "Also…ribs…" I wheezed.
"Sorry." She said, dropping me. "Also, visiting! Have a bunch of people I need to visit in a set amount of time. Anywho, come on I could use a drink. You too griffon." She said, grabbing me and Plory by the-AHHHHHHHHHHHH! Suddenly, I was back in town… What the- "So you got a bar here?"
"... I'm gonna go… throw up…" Plory said, her feathers a mess and wings spread out from the adrenaline of being dragged… that fast… She walked off and I did hear some vomiting where she went…
"Y-yeah…you get used to it…kidna…" I said, still feeling a bit green from how fast we went but having been jumped around a bunch before I kind of got used to it.
"Hey, Heather, bar, where is it? I wanna drink and talk." Katsuki said.
I sighed. "This way…and I'm sure Nanny, or Ophelia, would also like to have a word possibly…"
"Nope, just you." She said, pushing me along. "Now come on I need to get buzzed."
Weird… she's usually not this… pushy…
We arrived at the only bar in our little town and once we sat down we were given menus and Katsuki ordered… a bit of everything they had in terms of alcohol. Once we got the beers she began drinking. "Ah… they spike this with demon blood you can tell." She smirked as she smacked her lips.
"So…why are you suddenly this pushy about a lot of things?" I asked carefully.
"Oh, right. Welp, I'm gonna die." She said, taking another swig of the beer.
… What?
"Excuse you?" I asked in surprise. "Why are you going to die? When?"
"Can't tell you specific dates but I'm old Heather. I'm a War veteran, from THE war. This has been a long time coming and I wanted to at least meet everyone I either needed to or care about before I meet the Time Walker's end."
I sighed. "I…guess that makes sense." I nodded. "So, who have you met so far?"
"This pony guy out in a zombie zone. I had to give him some stuff before he left for some mission. But you are my first personal meet up." She smirked. "And I'd like to get wasted and make a few memories before you forget all about me."
"Well…I suppose making some memories would work…but why would I forget about you?" I inquired, finding that a little strange.
"A Time Walker doesn't just Go Mad, no, Madness doesn't claim us. When a Time Walker dies we are erased from existence. Including memories of us. I have whole photo albums of pictures of me and other Time Walker's and I have no idea who any of them are… yet in the photos… we clearly were good friends… maybe more even but… I can't remember… because they're gone…" She sighed. "And the same will happen to you and everyone who knew me when I pass. I mean, sure I do get reincarnated into a new person but no one will remember Katsuki Bakugou the Time Walker. I sure as hell won't remember who I used to be."
"Well then…technically you're not getting erased from existence?" I said in confusion. "Cause if there's physical media of dead Time Walkers, and if you Reincarnate…then that's not 'erased'..." I frowned, before scratching my head. "Ugh, can I go one day without having to question something that's always been a 'well, it just happens'? Please?" I groaned.
"Bitch I've been asking that since I got this job." She laughed. "Hence why my free time is spent drunk and fucked."
"Well…that's one way to do it." I said honestly.
"Yup. And yeah photos remain but records, digital and written of me will also vanish. Think of it like… Xion's death from Kingdom Hearts. Only permanent with just photos as proof we existed, but never any names or anything. Still, a face with no name ain't exactly proof of much of who I was. I came to terms with this a long ass time ago. Was just… waiting for when it was my time. Now that it is, I'm… actually happy."
"I understand…but…what if someone magically does remember you?" I asked. "This reality always goes 'anything and everything is possible'..."
"Well, if I were to take a guess… nothing good would come from it. Even if they somehow remembered me, then what? I am no longer even me. I'm someone else at that point… who unfortunately will also be fated to be a Time Walker and the cycle repeats."
"That's…horrible." I said carefully.
"That's the life of a Time Walker." She shrugged. "I have some things for you by the way. Some parting gifts."
"Oh really? What gifts do you have?"
"Well, first," She tapped her Assistant. From the device appeared a small statue of The Mother. A mini version of the ones usually found in most Churches. "This is a Blessing Statue. Once a day you can ask it for any basic item. However it can also give Assistants. I noticed that Griffon lady didn't have one so in case any more like her show up, you can have some on stock."
"Well then, that's pretty handy." I said honestly.
"Second," Katsuki continued, pulling out a data drive. The kind an Assistant can only read. "This is a map of your entire zone. With key areas of interest marked. It's a few thousand years old but geography rarely changes on Armageddon."
"How the hell did you get this?" I asked in surprise.
"Time Walker's have been sending recon and scouts to Armageddon since Era one. While we admittedly haven't done much, mapping zones can be done with minimal risk and effort. This data actually was co gathered by Time Walker's and the local Slayers Guild."
"Well, that makes sense." I nodded. "So…a map of the area, and a Blessing Statue…really important things, any other gifts?"
"Just one." She said. With another tap she brought out- holy crap! She handed me a smooth circular green stone, half was flat and the other rounded. A Core Stone?! "For your sword… you'll need it more than you know."
"A Core stone…oh boy I've actually tried looking for this thing for a long time." I said, gently taking the Core Stone and thinking how great Ol'Reliable is gonna be with this.
"I figure you'd rather just keep your favorite and make it better than use something else. You've taken that sword as far as it can go in terms of upgrading, but now you can take as as far as you'll need."
"Thanks Katsuki." I said with a smile, pulling out Ol Reliable and using the Core on it, really eager and excited to do so much with it.
It attached effortlessly, merging at the hilt and firmly setting itself as part of my weapon.
"Don't mention it." She smirked, finishing off her beer mug then moving onto her cup of whiskey. "I know how much that thing means to you. Now there are limitless upgradable possibilities."
"And I'm going to enjoy this immensely." I purred happily..
"You're a shark, how are you purring?" Katsuki laughed.
"Yes." I laughed. "Is this all the gifts before you get too drunk and try to hit on me?"
"Well while I wouldn't mind a roll in the sheets with you, I can't stay long." She sighed as she sipped her whiskey. "I have other people to meet up with and stuff to get done before my clock runs out. Deadlines are the worst." She huffed. "Pun not intended." She added.
"I know, and yes, deadlines can be a bitch."
With a nod she poured back the whiskey. The cup was put on the table and she gave a smile. "You know, you're the first friend I've made in a long time Heather."
"Really?" I inquired. "Thought you would have made a lot of friends before…" I said, surprised at me being her first new friend in a while.
"I used to… but, I always outlived them." She sighed. "Any Time Walker friends I've long forgotten when they passed, and the people I do remember when they pass… it builds up you know? Not a lot of people can make it as far as I have. After a while I stopped actively looking for friends… at least, til I saw you having that panic attack." She chuckled.
"I wasn't having a panic attack." I pouted.
"You were freaking out over not feeling your pregnant stomach." She laughed.
"It's not my fault I was both concerned for my kids in the dream realm, and also relieved at being able to move around normally." I huffed.
"I know. But, it feels nice that you're the one friend I didn't have to outlive. Even if when I pass you won't remember me… it was still good knowing you Heather."
"It was nice knowing you too, Katsuki." I said. "And before you leave, Casey would murder me if I didn't give him this once in a lifetime shot." I said honestly. "I can already see it's title of the picture, Friends Through Time."
She snorted. "Fine. But make it quick, I gotta be back on the road soon."
I nodded, but knowing Casey was pregnant I didn't want to strain them so I picked up Katsuki bridal style and ran off to find Casey as I called him up ony assistant "Hey Casey, got a once in a lifetime Picture opportunity." I told him over the 'phone'.
Well, telepathy. Works just as well. We learn this spell forever ago.
I got Katsuki and I ready and Casey brought out their camera. It was just going to be of Katsuki and I. We had an arm wrapped around one another, and we both held up our weapons. I held up Ol' Reliable and she held up her Gazing Eye.
Once the photo was taken, Katsuki took her leave. I had Casey print the photo immediately and had my Assistant title it as such.
"This'll…be the only time we'll remember her…" I sighed bitterly.
"..." I turned to Casey, who was writing something down.
"What are you writing?" I inquired.
"A reminder." They said, smiling as they showed me the note.
'First Daughter's name, Katsuki.'
"This way, my first born daughter can have the name of your friend. This way we never forget her name at least." Casey finished.
"Considering she said Time Walkers reincarnate…" I blinked. "You don't think…?"
"Who knows… we sure won't." They chuckled. "I just figured it might be a nice gesture."
"Yeah…it would be nice." I said warmly. "To friends."