The last few months went alright. I set a few permanent Anchored portals to my private reality and here. This let my army patrol around and keep guard and be a quick evacuation should anyone need it.
Pretty much everyone was moved into my pocket reality, including my family. It's got more room, is safer, and only those I let in can get in.
I've been watching over Malware closely this whole time. He's still rather… shaken. I worry he's still afraid everything so far has been a dream.
Speaking of, I need to get better with Keyblade stuff. I had Ol Reliable absorb a Starlight Keyblade so it will function the same and thankfully the New Foundation finally came and set up those portals. Once they did I immediately asked for a Keyblade Instructor.
I need to help end Maleware's nightmares. If that means traveling to the Realm of Nightmares… so be it.
"Death? You around here?" I asked, already thinking of doing something really stupid.
"Yes my Lord?" Death said, appearing to almost spiral out into existence before me.
"Is there any empty training grounds around?" I inquired.
"Yes my Lord. Do you wish to test your metal?"
"Yes…and maybe test another thing out." I admitted. "Cause I have some Keyblade nonsense to figure out…"
"As you wish." He said. He then led me to a massive indoor arena. Alright. Time to look at this… Keyblade Skill Tree- Holy shit that's a lot!
"...Oh…I forgot how huge this is…" I muttered.
Okay let's start with some basics… Specialty Attacks…
[Quick Blitz: Perform a simple jumping attack that lands a downwards slash.
1 Skill Point.
Levels: 3]
Simple enough.
"Alright…just a simple strike…" I muttered, as I also need to remember…I have an outlandish amount of Skill points constantly streaming into me every second.
I purchased the attack and-
[Notice! Purchase of the Quick Blitz Ability has unlocked the Combat Addition, Command Deck, for rapid use and activation of attack commands, powers, abilities, magic, elemental powers, and other uses.]
I blinked as now in my HUD was a small menu with three slots, but only one selected thing. Being Quick Blitz…
…
Oh I could have used this before so many times…
"Motherfucker…" I grumbled, deciding to look at all the other nonsense I could have done over the many years.
Hmm… oh… OH!
[Meteor Crash: Leap into the air and bring your Keyblade down with a swarm of meteors.
Price: 30 Skill Points
Levels: 5]
Oh that's cool!
"Oh yeah, me likey." I said with a smile, though I double checked the amount of skill points I had cause while it's been months I wanted to make sure.
[Skill Points: 241,925,920,287]
Woah… and it's going up still… most of this is back when I got the Skill Points from Urus…
"Oh boy…" I muttered. "Well, time to just have at it and grab everything I want." I said with a smile.
I grabbed all the Physical, Magic, hmm… what are you?
[Shotlocks: Focus on a target or multiple targets and unleash powerful build up attacks.
Command Styles: Based on attacks and magic you use, can activate special attack styles and combat styles.
Finishers: at the end of every combo, these finisher attacks will land extra damage and deal various effects.]
"Well damn, I've been missing out on a lot of stuff." I admitted.
I quickly purchased them all. Hmm, I was able to buy all the Shotlocks available but according to this I can create my own over time. Command Styles are activated from my combat and new ones can generate depending on factors, and Finishers seem to be unlocked via use rather than skill points. Using the basic Finish finisher so many times to take out a target unlocks the next bunch and so on and so forth it seems.
Well alrighty then… now I just need that Keyblade Instructor…
"Right…" I muttered, deciding to start my training, swinging, using the new Commands to get a good feeling for all this.
So far these all feel really good. I'm upset with myself for putting this off for so long!
I was at this for a few hours before Death appeared again. "Master. The New Foundation Keyblade Instructor has arrived." He informed.
Perfect.
"Cool." I nodded, opening up the portal and giving permission to my Keyblade instructor so that they could come in.
Walking in from the portal was… I uh… was expecting a lot of things… not uh… not this.
The instructor was small… like… six inches tall… and a bipedal mouse. She wore an all yellow jumpsuit and had equally yellow hair and eyes.
"Heather, correct?" She asked me.
I looked down and blinked.
"Uh…hi there…" I said to the tiny as shit mouse. "I am Heather…and…who are you?"
"I am Nifty, Keyblade Master Nifty. The New Foundation ordered me to educate you on Keyblade use and power." She said, summoning her own Keyblade. It looked almost like it was made from an actual key.
… Fuck she's adorable…
I had to contain myself to not pick up and hug the shit out of the adorable mouse and I was struggling with it. "W-well, it's nice to meet you Nifty." I said, bringing out Ol'Reliable. "And I fuzed Starlight with Ol'Reliable's Weapon Core…hmm, actually, what would happen if I got my true Keyblade while it's inside the Core?"
"Nothing. It looks as if Ol Reliable there already has it's own Weapon Soul, and as such, merging the Starlight Keyblade with it simply made it your True Keyblade." She stated. "You must have really care for this weapon."
"Yeah, Ol'Reliable has been my go to Greatsword and friend since I first got em." I said with a smile, seeing them float up a bit and give off a happy glow. "And a Weapon Soul…there's gonna be some nonsense about to happen when I get to that part of the skill tree." I said with a smile.
"Heh, it's not really a Skill Tree option. It just means you've used and cared for this weapon so much it gained sentience. Now then, is there anything in particular you wish to learn?"
"Well…I suppose the main thing I want to learn is the Dive to the Heart." I said readily. "Cause I have a child that…I need that ability to solve his Nightmare problem."
"Nightmares? On Armageddon?"
"Malware is part Shadow Creature…somehow, so he is able to access the Dream World…or more accurately, the Nightmare Realm…" I sighed. "And he's been suffering through that for…for too long…"
"Ah. I see. In that case I can solve this issue for you immediately if you'd like."
"That would be great…Malware deserves to rest easy instead of suffering like this." I said.
"Alright then. Bring me to the child."
"Alright." I nodded, teleporting off to find Malware and bring him here.
Thankfully I found him in his new favorite place. The parts of the Library I allowed him access. Thankfully he has been sleeping better, but the Dream Catcher is still a rather temporary solution. Plus he needs more sleep than what it can provide.
He looked up, seeing me. "Hi Heather." He said.
"Hey Malware, mind coming with me real quick? I have someone for you to meet that can…aid with fixing your problem."
"You mean my Nightmares?" He asked.
"Yes, your Nightmares." I nodded. "I got someone that can help get rid of all of it."
"Really?" He asked as he put his book down and stood up. "Will… it really work?"
"Well, this is kind of like how I give the Prize Pod people their memories so…most likely." I said honestly.
"Okay…" Malware said.
I took his hand and walked with him into the portal. Nifty was still there and waiting. "This is the child. I see, a Half-Monster, as you said. Please child, lay down." She asked him.
Nodding, Malware did at told, laying down and eventually Nifty raised her Keyblade over his head. I could hear the sounds of sheep then he fell asleep.
She then let the tip of her Keyblade glow until it shot out a beam of light above Malware. A strange orb of purplish color with odd floating triangles over and under it appeared and it was showing Malware back in the room he and his mothers shared for so long.
"This is Malware's Heart?" I inquired.
"No. This is a Dive Spheres. It uses his Heart to show us his Dreams and where he should be in the realm of dreams, or in this case, Nightmares. Tell me Heather, what do you know of the Realm of Nightmares?"
"It's the Opposite of the Realm of Dreams, a place where you get to live out your greatest fears or whatever new and fresh horror you just saw before going to bed for the twelfth time in a row…" I frowned, knowing I'm bringing up a bit of a problem on my end but still.
"Not exactly. Yes it's the opposite of the Realm of Dreams but it's also still a realm of it's own, following many of the same rules as the Realm of Dreams but there is one major difference. The entirety of the Realm of Nightmares is a Dungeon. Similar to how the whole of Armageddon is a type of dungeon, the Realm of Nightmares has no safe places to go without making one. And the only way to do that is to slay the one giving Malware here his nightmares."
"And where is the bastard that's giving my child these nightmares?"
"Likely a native born to the Realm of Nightmares." She said. "Like any realm people can be born to it and those born to the Realm of Nightmares all have the power to give nightmares to others. It's their Realm Born Birthright Ability. Unfortunately not much is known as to why they do this, but all we do know is that it's torture for the target." She said. The orb showed Malware looking like he was having a panic attack now. "I'm going in now. Keep watch over our bodies." She added, raising her hand towards the orb.
There was a glow around her before her body collapsed.
I looked to the Orb showing she was now with Malware, taller, maybe my old height and fighting these monsters that appeared around her and Malware.
"I…really wish I could be the one solving this…" I thought to myself bitterly, seeing the fighting and…seeing someone else fix this when this was my mistake and my problems that I needed to fix…
I…
I shook my head. No. As long as Malware is okay and safe after this that's all that matters… I don't have to be the hero all the time…
Still… I just wish I could have done something…
I really should take some time off and just be a mom and partner to my family… hmm… wonder if there are any theme parks or amusement parks here…
"Hey Death?" I called out, summoning my friendly advisor.
Once again, he appeared spiraling out from nothing into his full form. "Yes my Lord?" He asked.
"Do we have any theme or amusement parks in this realm?" I inquired.
"Not… really, my Lord." Death stated.
"You were hesitant in saying that, mind explaining?"
"Well, Demons don't have the same general definition of fun as most mortals. While true not all demons share this sentiment or ideal of fun the vast majority do enjoy either combat or find humor in what most mortals would find as terrifying."
"Right…" I said carefully. "Shit…got a point there…hmm…" I hummed, thinking about how to get a nice park here or just some place our entire family could hang out at and just have fun. "Gonna need to talk to the other's about this to get it all fully worked out…"
"As you wish. Is there anyone you wish for inform?"
Hm… Casey's Township can probably do a lot for this actually…
"Mind getting Casey for me?"
"As you wish." He said with a nod and quickly floated off.
I sat here and waited, watching as Nifty fought waves of those Nightmare monsters.
…
I sighed. I wonder… how badly have I fucked up my family… how badly have I fucked up…
[Notice! You Have Been Bestowed The Title, Estate!]
"Uh…okay…what the hell…" I muttered, looking at Estate to see what it did.
[Estate: This title activates a personal RP (Relationship Points) system that quantifies your Relationships with others. Increasing your relationships with others increases your RP that can be exchanged for other things.]
Huh…
"Uh…huh…" I said slowly. "That's…definitely something." I said…deciding to look at Malware and test it out, cause while I know he's unconscious and Nifty is doing some…nifty things…ugh! This is a serious time, I can't be making puns…
[Malware
Relationship Status: 4
He's happy it's not a dream, but is scared it is.]
Hmm… that's interesting… I guess 4 is better than what I was expecting to be honest…
"So I also get some commentary about my relationships…well, that's good to know." I thought to myself, wondering how big my RP is with Casey and…maybe they should rethink the abbreviation on that as my mind went astray real quick.
[It's not my fault you're a horny pervert with every furry fetish in the book.]
… I blinked at the message box before me… did… I just get sassed… by my own new Title?
"...Excuse you?" I mentally asked the Title.
[I said what I said… well, wrote. Besides, you know what's in your closet.]
"Okay, who the hell are you? Cause Titles shouldn't be able to talk or sass…secondly, how the hell did I get you?"
[I am the Estate Title. I'm more advanced than some other Titles, and a sassy bitch. So far you're the second person I've been assigned to.]
"Uh huh…wonder what nonsense the Family was up to when making you…" I thought. "And who's the second person?"
[Classified. Though so far you're less teasable.]
"Right…" I sighed. "Okay…so at least you're going to help me learn how to fix being a mother and wife…"
[The fuck do I look like a councilor? Free Therapy?]
"You wouldn't exist if that wasn't part of your sassy nature." I admitted.
[I can't tell you how to fix shit. I can only show you the qualified numbers of how much a person likes or hates you and their thoughts of you. Fixing and improving them is your own mess to work on.]
"That's why I said help me, cause you telling me their thoughts on me and other stuff will help me do the correct things." I told it.
[... You are in for some serious disappointment saltwater tits.]
"Oi, these are Sugar Titties, and they are powerful." I countered.
"Uh, your right hand asked for me to arrive Heather?" I heard Casey ask.
I turned to them and smiled.
[Casey Harper
Relationship Status: 106
You quite literally married and fucked a marshmallow here lady.]
"Yes, and I am proud of that fact." I answered smugly. "Hey Casey, so I need your help with trying to make a family park, either amusement or theme parks, or just…a place where we can all have fun as a family."
"Huh, well there are some templates for various rides, like roller coasters, farrise wheels, all kinds of things." Casey hummed.
"All those work." I shrugged. "Cause…well, now that we're pretty much in pure safety, we can start to think about just…spending time with family, doing fun things…have a bit more fun with the holidays." I admitted, cause while Christmas was fantastic this year, especially after not having celebrated it for ten years straight…it was just good to have some nice holiday fun after so long.
"Alright. I guess I can maybe plan something out…" Casey hummed.
[Darn. Had he gotten me I'd have been able to help him.]
"Really?" I mentally inquired. "How so?"
[Not telling… Although… Hmm… Brb, gonna check something.]
… wat?
"Excuse me, you can just do that?" I mentally asked in confusion.
There was no response… uhh…
"So when do you want me to get started Heather?" Casey asked me.
"As soon as you can, cause I can get some of the smith's and builders to help you out and also…well, you now have practically infinite resources to play around with." I admitted.
"Township lets me construct it all as long as I have the base materials love. All I'll need is the metals and maybe some plastics and wood."
"Which you have in spades given all the materials I obtained from being the Guild Master and all the material's I obtained from becoming ruler." I said honestly. "Go wild my love, show me your Roller Coaster Tycoon skills."
"Wow, haven't played that in forever. Heh, well I'll see how rusty I am then." Casey said as they headed off.
I felt happy about that and looked back at the orb. Woah… Nifty is fighting some… thing now… wow… is that what's been hurting Malware…
Hope she kills it…
[I'm back!]
"Sup, where did you disappear to?"
[That's not important but good news I can do a thing you just have to do something first.]
"What do I have to do?" I inquired.
[I can't say. You just have to do it.]
…
"Right, so I just have to do a thing that you can't tell me, got it." I said. "Just do the thing you're not allowed to tell me, I'm sure I can do just that, chief." I sassed.
[Look I exist to tell you who likes you, who hates you, and sass you, don't blame me for following the rules of which I was created with.]
"Says the one that told me they'll be right back and fucked off for a bit somehow." I pointed out. "So…just have to continue waiting and watch Nifty murder the thing torturing Malware."
I sat and watched. Hopefully when it's dead, Malware will be okay…
Eventually, Nifty killed it, the area around Malware seemed to change into something more akin to the house now, but full of little adorable creatures. I then saw her do something. I heard a sound like a lock clicking before she woke up, the orb vanishing and Malware getting up too.
"Well, that worked…" She huffed, sounding tired.
"How bad was it?" I asked worriedly.
"Bad. Whoever that fucker was had been feeding off Malwares fears and pain from the nightmares he caused for a long time and was not happy you had set up a barrier. Bright side though, killing him let me purify a small bit of the Realm of Nightmares." She smirked.
"Thank you so much for this Nifty." I said with a warm smile. "I…wish I could have aided in some way but…I'm glad this was fixed." I admitted, turning to Malware who was still getting up. "How are you feeling Malware?"
"... Lighter, I guess?" He said. "I know I feel a little different but not sure why or how to describe it…" Malware admitted.
"That's because I was able to link the purified area of the Realm of Nightmares to your heart." Nifty stated. "This makes it your own personal little Realm of Dreams. I then sealed it, so only you can access it. No more nightmares."
"This is great." I said with a smile. "You are now the first person to have the Realm of Dreams in Armageddon."
After that, Malware went back to the library to read. Nifty said she'd return every week to train me with a keyblade.
In the meantime, time to check on my relationships with everyone.
Alright, first up was Casey, now let's check on the kids.
I peeked into Mantis's new room. Give. The castle was like the ship, we figured we'd all move into new, larger rooms. Mantis's new room was just as bare and empty but at least now had various notebooks and books from the Library he would read through.
[Mantis
Relationship Status: 10
He has no self preservation.]
…
"Hey Mantis." I said.
"Yes?" He asked, turning up to look at me.
"Just checking on you and…ask you an important question." I said carefully.
"What's the question?"
"Have you been…keeping yourself safe when going out and doing stuff?" I asked carefully.
"As safe as I can given my new Stats."
Right… still, what about before…
"Were you keeping yourself safe before you got all your new stats and abilities?" I inquired.
"I managed according to my combat protocols."
"Did you get hurt?" I asked worriedly.
"As one does engaged in combat with an enemy. Biomass assimilation repaired the damage."
"...Remember, your safety is still important." I said carefully. "Don't believe just your Biomass assimilation can keep you going…"
"My mana conversation organ helps with nutrients."
"What do you think of Self-Preservation?" I asked, deciding to throw out pretense here.
"That is the value of ones self to preserve their existence to avoid death, correct?"
"Yes…and do you have any Self-Preservation?" I asked, knowing this was probably a weird thing to ask but I'm concerned for Mantis's safety.
"... I'm not sure."
"What do you mean by that?" I inquired.
"To have self preservation means one needs to recognize a danger and avoid or escape it. I was created for reconnaissance and data gathering but when I was ordered to engage I'd do so regardless of data warnings of potential dangers. This includes escape if possible but the more likelihood for a Stalker than escape to avoid capture was to self destruct."
"And I don't want you to self destruct." I said simply. "You are my son, and I care about you and your safety…please, even if you are very strong…please don't be reckless and get yourself needlessly hurt." I said, honest worry that he'd sooner take a lot of unnecessary hits just to get a shot in.
"I… am unsure how to do that."
"Really?" I inquired. "How so?"
"Nowhere in my prior programming is there means to follow self preservation… and when I was with Matthew and Zena, I only avoided danger because this body and the life tied to it, Matthew, was in danger and my priority was Matthew's safety. I even went as far as to delete myself from the body to save Matthew… I don't know how to care about my own life…"
…
"Well…the best way I can describe it is with your past experiences, where you were helping make Matthew safe." I said honestly. "Does that make sense? Just without the…deleting yourself from your own body kind of thing."
"I… suppose. But what about missions?"
"How good is your threat assessment?" I inquired.
"I can detect physical and magical risks." He said. "My main program is meant to detect threat risks from Nokori Targets and determine if a Cage or Rhinoceros Stalker Unit was needed. I could try and reprogram it to work with the Scan Ability and combine the data to determine threat assessment."
"That is a good thing, and also, another thing with Self Preservation is to not take as much damage or unnecessary hits." I said. "Cause while you can heal yourself with Biomass and all that stuff, sometimes you won't have it readily available, either because you are fighting something that's inorganic or doesn't have any organics to it, or your hard pressed in a fight and your opponent doesn't give you a chance to heal up." I explained. "I know your defense is bonkers at this point but still, but not to take unwanted hits."
"I will make an effort then."
[Mantis still is confused on what it means to be alive and his own person, but appreciates the advice towards his efforts.
Relationship Status with Mantis increased by +1
+16 RP rewarded]
"Awesome." I thought to myself. "Every step to help my little boy learn is always a great step."
[We get it cheese shark.]
"Exactly." I thought happily
I left Mantis to his reading and checked on the next of my kids.
Hex really liked his new room. It was bigger and he gets a view out of his new window of the whole area outside.
Hex was watching cartoons on his new TV.
[Hex
Relationship Status: 22
He's a good pupper.]
"Hex is a good pupper." I mentally agreed. "Hey Hex, how you doing?"
"I'm good mom." He said.
Heh… I… wonder… he was a baby… when we opened his pod…
… Does that mean…
"Hmm…" I thought to myself. "Hey Hex…" I said carefully.
"Yeah?" He asked.
"Is it alright if I…go inside your mind real quick? It's like what I did with your brother Mantis." I explained softly.
"Uh, okay? I was a baby when you opened my pod so not sure there's much to see." He said with a shrug.
"And you still are my sweet baby boy." I said with a smile. "But…better to see what's in there so I know for future instances."
"Alright." He shrugged.
I nodded, putting a hand to his shoulder and activated Gene Walker.
I appeared in his old room. Makes sense, majority of his memories take place in the old house. Need to head deeper.
I walked out and around looking for the hall of memories.
I found it pretty quick and began to head further and further back. Okay Hex… how did you end up on your pod…
"I…am really scared about what I'll learn here…" I thought to myself, remembering how the other Lover class pod people…showed up.
I took a deep breath… alright… these are his memories from his infancy… heh… there's my first time nursing him… little guy drank my new tits dry…
Okay and here we are….
…
…
…
Oh no…
I watched this memory, Hex had just been born. Born to a litter of five to their bio mom, same species as him. I watched her fighting something that came into her home… watched that thing butcher her…
Watched it slash at Hex and his siblings without mercy…
I'd never seen one before, but I knew those eyes…
That's a Red Hunter Shadow… violent and merciless…
"Oh…oh no…" I muttered in fear at learning what…caused this.
I waited for the sound of the Guardian to arrive… but it never came…
Why would it. Hex couldn't remember this anyway…
…
And it will stay that way…
I brought out Ol'Reliable…and tried to lock this Memory, keep it from resurfacing even in the Realm of Nightmares, far from his mind so he won't ever remember.
[Do you wish to destroy the selected memories?]
… Yes. I hacked at them, the images shattering like glass.
[Selected memories destroyed.]
I sighed, not believing this was the first memory I destroyed…but it's for the best that he never learns this…
[The destroyed memories essence will be transferred to you.]
What?
The shards turned to a fog that floated over to me, flowing into my body.
[The essence of the destroyed memories has been absorbed. Destroyed Memory essences can create new memories, or applied to stats as skill points.
Notice!
Past Protector Title and Estate Title Cross Compatibility Detected!
Destroyed Memory Essences can be converted to Estate RP!]
…
Uh huh…that is new. Well, might as well see how much each choice gives me here…
[Conversion of Essence to Skill Points: 5
Conversion of Essence to RP: 45]
"Well...that is new." I thought, deciding to put the essence to RP since I have more than enough Skill Points here.
[45 RP Received!
You have been given the Estate Title, Mmmmmm, Memories.]
… Estate… title? Also did you just make a Simpsons reference?!
[Yes.]
"Uh…huh…also, I've been given the Estate Title? I thought I already had you…" I questioned.
[No dummy. I can give you Titles that are linked to me.]
… Excuse me what?!
"Hold the fuck up, okay, who are you really and what do you mean you can just give me titles?"
[I'm the Estate Title. I know you're a few hundred years old but Alzheimer's can't have hit you already… and technically I make them.]
…
"Okay, first of all, fuck you Alzheimer's practically doesn't exist because of a lot of reasons, and two…the hell do you mean you just make Titles? Seriously, who are you?" I asked incredulously, cause this person just being a normal ass Title doesn't make any sense at this point.
[I'm the Estate Title. If you're expecting a different answer then you're wasting your single brain cell.]
…
"Alright…whatever." I shook my head. "I'll figure it out later…" I said, opening up a portal to get out of here as I solved this mystery.
After my visit with Hex I quickly checked on other people.
I spotted Diane looking around the Castle Hallway.
[Diane
Relationship Status: 42
Your internet history come back to fuck you.]
"And I am happy with that fact." I told it simply. "Hey Diane, how you doing?"
"I'm exploring the castle. There's a lot of rooms in here." She said.
"Yeah, there are a lot of rooms." I admitted.
"Is there anything you wish?"
"Just wanted to spend time with you." I said honestly.
"There are some spare bedrooms if you'd like Heather. Or you'd you prefer here in the hallway?"
…
[You dirty minded shark…]
"Shush you!" I mentally shouted at that. "While…doing it in the hallway sounds enticing, I'd rather spend time with you and get to know you better." I said honestly. "Cause…well, I haven't spent normal quality time with you in a long time."
"But I don't have any hobbies aside you pulling my tail while rutting me and squeezing my breasts until-" I quickly covered her mouth.
[Pfft! HAHAHAHAHAH!]
"SHUT UP!" I mentally shouted at the dumbass title. "Alright, then we'll go and help you get a hobby cause…well, I want to spend time with you that isn't just the…all the lewd stuff."
"Not even a little?" She asked as I was pushing her along the hallway, trying to ignore the many pop up displays from Estate laughing it's non-existent ass off…
"Hobby first, then I make your ass jiggle like jello alright?" I asked. "Please…I really want to make amends for just…treating you as nothing more than a Sex Bot when you were designed to be more than just a sex bot."
"But I am a sex bot. Your regular use of my various holes and butt specifically proof of it. Plus you love my jiggly butt, especially when it's over your face."
[You have earned the Estate Title, Booty Beholder.]
This was followed by even more laughing pop up windows.
"I will figure out where you live and smack you." I mentally groaned. "Listen…this isn't the point, hobbies need to be a thing and I need to treat you more like a person than a bot with an ass that claps so hard it could collapse a black hole…"
"But you love it when my butt makes those clapping sounds…"
[Oh this is gonna be too easy! And I thought the other guy was a pervert! You're a genuine horndog!]
"I will delete you." I mentally threatened the Title. "Yes, yes I do love it…but come on…you are more than just a sex bot, please…I missed ten years of actually spending time with you that wasn't sexy and fluffy wonderland…"
"But what will we be doing if not each other?"
[Diane is conflicted. Her programming from her experiences and accumulated memories of her Learning Program has long since cemented her role in your life as your sexual object. She is unsure how to react to being offered a choice and options outside her norm.]
Well at least it's not an insult or taunt but ouch…
"Diane…I'm…I'm so sorry." I said sadly, turning her around so I could look her in the eyes. "I…I shouldn't have just treated you like this…you were made to be better, to be more…I've just…been so busy, concerned for everything that…I forgot to give you choices…"
"I… don't know how to react to….choices. You've always told me what to do and how to please you I'm… not sure what to do…" She said sadly. "Can't I just start sucking you off instead?"
I nearly fell over at hearing that.
"Later…cause I'm going to right this wrong." I said, righting myself real quick. "Because I care for you, and I do genuinely love you…I…I'm sorry for doing this to you Diane…"
"You keep saying that but I don't know what you did wrong…"
…That just makes me feel worse..
"Here's…here's what I did wrong." I said. "I only used you…I never let you make your own decisions, I only treated you like some sex toy to sate my lust when I should have been treating you like a person, helping you become better, not just think about pleasing me…I failed you…all because I was more focused on making sure we were safe, fed and…just all this crap going on…"
"But… but I am a sex toy. I'm yours I… how can I be more than that?"
[Diane is worried about her role in your life. She is afraid of what the changes you wish could bring.
Her opinion of you has changed from 'My Beloved Master' to 'My Upset Master'.
She believes she is the problem for not understanding what you want.
Relationship Status is unchanged.]
"Diane…look at me." I said, seeing her look at me as…the uncertainty in her eyes just hurt my heart more. "You are not the problem, what you've done is because of what I wanted…how you act is because of my actions…I never asked what you wanted to do, I never spent just a normal day with you…" I said, trying to think of some way to explain this better. "It's…it's like me not cuddling you after we have sex if that makes sense, and you know how much I like cuddles."
"I do enjoy our cuddles. Sometimes in your sleep you start nursing off me." She chuckled. Wait I what?! "I… don't know what I want to do… all I know is that I want you… your touch, your kisses and your bare skin on me… it's all I've ever known… something other than that feels… scary."
"Okay so…I didn't know I nursed when I'm asleep…" I admitted carefully. "And…I can help you not fear doing something else, for you to have a choice…I know it'll be a slow process and…it'll be worrying sometimes…" I said, before giving them a hug. "But I'm still here for you…I will always love you and make sure your happy."
"I'm happy when you're using me… how do I be happy if you aren't?"
Hmm… well, she likes cuddles and… I might have an idea…
I gently picked Diane up. Really glad this new body makes that possible.
I brought her to one of the spare rooms, undress her then myself, pulled her close against me… then we got under the covers, our heads poking out and I turned on the TV to start a movie.
I made sure to hold her close as it started. I'm gonna have to take this slow but also… work kind of backwards. She's so used to… before, I'll have to pervert the situations a bit but she loves my bare skin against hers, my kisses and touch… I can do that even if we're just enjoying a movie.
"Gonna start slow…with some good old movie cuddles."
"Naked cuddles~" Diane said happily as I felt her… moving my hands into familiar positions. "This feels nice… even if we aren't going to have sex this feels… less different. Less scary…"
[Diane's opinion of you has changed from 'My Upset Master' to 'My Beloved Master'.
You have avoided a potential Relationship Status decline.]
Well, not sure if that's much of an improvement or not but, better than her thinking I'm upset with her.
Maybe something as lewd free as I can to start… ah! Can't go wrong with Disney.
That night was the first time I spent with Diane and we didn't get physically intimate. We just watched movies, cuddled, spooned and… fell asleep.
It's a start. Bit of an odd start but a start. At least she does seem very interested in the movies. When I left she was still watching them, so at least she did find a new interest.
… Now onto the others. Starting with Malware's mom. She birthed him alone and raised him with the others help…
Time to give Ella some love too.
"Now…where is Ella?" I wondered, using my new senses to find said special lady.
Thankfully, I was able to find her in the Castle Gardens… that I am also seeing for the first time.
So pretty…
I found Ella sitting amongst some flowers, just looking at them with a small smile.
[Ella
Relationship Status: 21
Despite you two having rarely spoken, she is grateful to you for keeping her and taking her away from her prior owner and housing her son as well, even if you never saw him until just a few days ago.]
You just had to throw that last bit in didn't you…
"Hey Ella." I called out, moving over to the special women and…I…just hope I can make this up to her…
"Oh, hello Heather." She said as she looked at me as I sat next to her. "The gardens here are quite lovely."
"Yeah, they are rather beautiful." I admitted. "...But…I'm really sorry Ella…"
"For?"
"For just…ignoring you for over ten years…" I sighed. "I…I didn't mean or want to…just…everything kept happening and…ugh…" I grumbled, rubbing my temple bitterly as I just kept feeling more and more like crap because of this.
"It's okay." She said softly. "I didn't mind… compared to… my prior owner, it was good."
…
"Well…I'm…I'm glad that you were doing well…and I'm happy to hear it was good but…I still should have at least spent some time with you…either as some passing conversation or something…"
"Well, we are talking now."
"True." I shrugged. "But…how have you been?"
"As well as I can be. Malware said you helped cure his nightmares… thank you. When he first started having them I'd hug and comfort him all day and night to no avail… I felt so… worthless… despite his origins and his… father I care deeply for my son… he's the first thing I genuinely felt was mine."
"I understand." I nodded. "And…I had my new master fix it, since she knew better." I explained. "Malware will no longer have nightmares and has his own special realm of dreams now."
"That's good. He deserves the best. I'm glad he was born in your home, and not in that place…"
… It must have been bad for her… for all of them…
"Is…is it alright if I ask…?" I asked nervously.
"If you want… It's bad memories now, all In the past. Despite the danger of this planet, that man, my prior owner, is the only thing I fear and he can't get us here."
"Yep, and I'm going to keep you safe from assholes like him." I admitted. "And you don't need to tell me if you don't want to, as long as your safe and happy that's all I want." I said with a smile.
"Thank you." She said, looking back to the flowers.
"You're welcome, always happy to help." I said with a warm smile.
I sat there next to her watching as she just looked at the flowers, and occasionally touched them, smelling the scent that rubbed onto her fingers when she did.
It was amazing such a simple thing brought her such happiness.
"...Do you like Gardening?" I inquired.
"I've never gardened before. I've never even been outside save when we were removed from our prior owner. I guess even in this garden I still haven't. It is indoors after all." She laughed lightly. "All I know for a fact is that I love flowers, even if this is my first time seeing them in real life."
"Yeah, flowers are lovely." I said, gently plucking one of the flowers. "The wonders of nature and it's beauty." I said with a smile, as I carefully put it in her hair like I did with Casey way back when.
She smiled, feeling the flower in her hair. "How have you been Heather? You seem in good spirits."
"Well, I'm doing better." I admitted. "Just been trying to connect with everyone now that we're all safe and don't have to worry about anything anymore…got Malware's nightmare problem fixed, I got Diane to enjoy Disney movies after…learning my mistakes…"
"Yes. Despite them… you still treated her better than…" She breathed in deeply. "She's still happy. That's what matters."
…
"I'm trying to fix my mistakes…" I told her. "What's wrong?" I asked, as again I felt my heart clench in pain as someone I was mean to help, to take care of, to be friend's or even family to…"Please…you can tell me."
"Just the bad memories again… flashbacks to bleaker days. Like Diane, our old owner only used us for sex… but unlike you and Diane, he was cruel to us… after all. We're property… and he made sure to remind us of why we exist and why he owned us regularly…"
"And I hate how I…just caused that same situation…" I shook my head bitterly.
"You are nothing like that man." Ella said quick, cutting me off. "You made a mistake, distracted by obligation and concern… he knew what he was doing to us and enjoyed it…"
"I…I mean…you're correct…but it still makes me feel like crap." I sighed. "And…something I can do if you want…I can…erase those bad memories if you want."
"No!" She snapped, jumping up and backing away.
[Ella is panicking. You are very bad at picking up on cues.]
"I'm not in the mood right now." I mentally told the title. "Ella…I'm….I'm so sorry…" I said, tearing up as, yet a-fucking-gain, I'm fucking this up and only hurting those around me…
"I don't want to… I don't want to forget. I don't care how bad the memories hurt he made us all forget so many times…" She teared up. "I don't want to ever forget anything."
"I…I understand." I said softly. "You won't ever forget, no matter what. I promise."
She shook for a bit, then sat back down. "I know you feel guilty about how your relationship with Diane had… devolved over the years, your forgetfulness of us… but we chose to stay in that room for a reason… we were… scared. Worried… me more than anyone… I was pregnant after all…"
"That still doesn't help the fact that I should have still been there to help…I understand you were scared…I understand…" I sighed. "But…I should have still done something, anything to help you all feel safe and…not just take you in, then just kind of…leave it at that…"
"Maybe… but all that time alone with each other helped us process. We began to cope and move on. When Malware was born, we felt we had a purpose and reached out to Diane to help with feeding him. Maybe you took ten years to notice us, but we always noticed you. Watched and listened from our room and learned about you, your loves and children. We know you aren't a bad person Heather, your guilt now is proof of that. For the last ten years we all kept to ourselves and cared for Malware and hid away… now, I think we'd like to start living, on our own terms though."
"I understand." I nodded. "And I'm here to help you and the other's as best I can."
"Thank you Heather… if it's all the same to you, I'd rather… not, pursue anything in terms of… romantic or physical relationships. I want to discover myself and learn who I am, and I do want you there but not as my owner or anything romantic… if anything, I'd appreciate a friend."
"I wasn't thinking about any physical or romantic relationships cause…well, I didn't want to bring back bad memories with all of that." I admitted. "I just wanted to be here and…well, be a friend for a start." I said honestly. "Like I should have been a long time ago…"
"Just friends then?" She asked, holding out a hand to me.
"Just friends." I said, taking her hand. "And if there was any way for a relationship like that…well, I am a very patient lady who's waited over two hundred years for Casey to pop the question, so I know how to wait." I mildly joked at my expense.
"No chance." She laughed as she shook my hand.
[Your Relationship with Ella has changed.
Relationship has gone from 'My Owner' to 'My Friend'.
Relationship Status +4
+64 Rap
You have been given the Estate Title, Friends Without Benefits.]
"That's just called Friends." I mentally told my Title.
[Yeah, but I'm the one naming these things.]
I helped get Ella set up to practice some gardening, even found one of the gardener demons to help teach her.
Meanwhile I quickly left to check out these Estate Titles…
"Alright you sassy sack of shit…what Titles did you 'give me'." I thought to myself, looked at what the Titles even did or if it was as Titles were once thought as being fluff text.
[Alright, here ya go.
Estate Titles:
Hmmmmm Memories: Consuming Memory Essence into RP allows you to gain addition RP from the person you consumed the Memory Essence from.
+4 RP once a week per individual you consumed Memory Essence from.
–-
Booty Beholder: You like big butts and you will not lie~ Each butt related encounter grants you .5 RP.
Friends Without Benefits: People who have been through trauma from abusive relationships find you more easy to speak with and feel calmer around you. For every person you help heal from their past trauma of relationships, +7 RP a week is given. For each one you fully befriend with a Friendship Status of 40 or above, RP value is +15 a week for that individual(s).]
… I'm mad the Booty Beholder one has applications…
"Well…might as well see what the hell RP actually gives…" I thought to myself
[Opening RP menu.
RP Total: 125
Summon Lottery - 50 RP
Open Item Shop Menu
Convert RP to Rem
Convert RP to Skill Points
Apply RP to Another
Spend RP to Upgrade Stats
Mystery Prize
(Gain 50,000 RP to Unlock)]
Huh… interesting…
"Well…let's check the Item Shop first, to see if there's anything neat in there even if I don't need…pretty much anything." I thought to myself.
I clicked the Shop option and… holy crap… this has everything… shit the good stuff is all super expensive… guess that tracks…
"Well…at least this'll be useful later…" I hummed.
These other options though… which should I test out. I have a fair amount of RP so… hmm. Don't need Rem or Skill Points… like ever, using RP to upgrade stats is almost like using Skill Points but it only affects them by one, even the Combat Skills. Using RP on another is the same as using it on my own stats… that just leaves Summon Lottery and Mystery Prize…
"What's the Summon Lottery?" I inquired, taking a good guess as to what the Mystery Prize is, which is a Mystery, but not sure what Summon Lottery was.
[Summon Lottery allows you to spend RP to summon one random creature that can aid you in a variety of ways depending on the creature summoned. There is a chance at getting a Dud however, which may either just cause the Summon Lottery to create a small explosion in your face, or summon an uncontrollable monster.]
"...Right…" I muttered, teleporting back to to the Arena and checking to see how much each Lottery cost.
Alright… fifty RP. Welp… guess we'll see…
I selected Summon Lottery.
Instantly a magic matrix appeared before me, it felt powerful and glowed a bright green and-
Ah shit why is it noisy! It's like grinding gears and plastic!
After a while the grinding ended and out popped a small little iguana.
Awe…
They were tiny, easy, only four inches long and three high. They kind of reminded me of Pascal from Tangled….
"Awe, you're adorable." I said with a warm smile.
"Rupu. (Thank you.)" The iguana said.
Huh… weird. I know I heard them say Rupu… but I understood what he ment…
"Uh…you're welcome." I said, deciding to check both my skills and also give him a quick scan to see how I can just…understand animals.
[It's not a skill per say, it's a byproduct of the summoning magic Summon Lottery uses. See, these summons are actually rather useful in other things, not just combat. They are called Utility Summons.]
"Really now?" I thought curiously, as I knelt down and brought a hand down for the little guy to climb up.
He climbed up onto my palm, and spat out a wet bit of paper… ewe…
I picked the paper up and unfolded it's sogginess.
There were some words and I began reading.
{Rupu is a iguana that has three skills. Transmutation Stomach. Any materials they eat will be regurgitated as another depending on the materials eaten and the amount. This is not limited to inorganic matter.
Run-Run. Rupu can reach running speeds of up to 42,000 MPH.
Whip Tongue. Rupu's tongue is strong like metal and can lash about at supersonic speeds, allowing for rapid and heavy hitting attacks.
Rupu also is able to utilize the special Sunflower Seeds. Red Sunflower Seeds allow Rupu and other affected summons to grow to a larger size for up to twelve hours. The blue Sunflower Seeds allow them to shrink back to normal size before the twelve hour timer of the red sunflower seed is up.
More of these special seeds can be purchased from the RP Store.}
Huh, neat.
And Rupu spat out a small paper pouch. Three red, three blue. Hmm…
"Okay, this is pretty cool." I thought to myself. "Welcome to the team Rupu."
"Rupu (Happy to be here!)" Heh. He's cute.
I looked at the seeds… hmm. Wonder how big he gets?
"Want to test how big you get from these three red seeds?" I inquired.
They nodded. I gave Rupu a red seed.
He ate it and jumped off my hand, instantly growing… oh… my… holy!
I actually fell to my butt in surprise… he's like a double decker semi-truck!
"Rupu! (I'm huge!)"
"Yes…yes you are…" I said in surprise. "Holy hell these thing's increase the size by a lot."
At this size, his Tongue Whip could snap huge buildings in half… and his Transmutation Stomach… He can eat a lot and spit out so much and make it whatever…
…
"Right…we have some testing to do." I said, moving over and hopping onto Rupu's back. "And that'll involve going out and seeing what'll happen if you eat a whole ass building and use Transmutation Stomach…I need to know."
I opened the portal… then remembered his Run-Run ability… oh-SHIIIIIIIIIIIIT!
The wind was like rockets going off in my ears and when he stopped I felt lightheaded.
Oof… That was… fast…
"Uh…right…" I put a hand to my hand. "Just…a little warning next time my guy…"
I got off him and quickly shook my head. We were in a city area… Alright, time to test stuff!
"Alright, time to see what nonsense you can eat and what comes out of that giant stomach of yours." I said readily. "Ready for this?"
Rupu nodded, their tongue lashed out like a giant fleshy whip and… destroyed the giant building before us. It was like a bomb went off… He then used his tongue to grab a bunch of the debris and pulled it into his mouth, chewing and swallowing.
His stomach glowed through his skin for a while, and after a while he spat out a huge, kind of slimy, chunk of metal.
I used Scan immediately,
[Scan Complete!
Refined Iron!
100% Purity!]
Woah… That's akin to very deep level ore deposits…
"A hundred percent pure iron…" I said in awe. "Great job Rupu!"
"Rupu. (Thank you.)"
[As his Transmutation Stomach levels up through use or the spending of RP, he will be able to create far more metals and with less materials. Same applies to his other skills.]
I smirked. Looks like this Estate thing is more useful than I thought.
"Awesome, this'll make getting some of the rarer stuff a lot easier." I thought happily.
Alright… now for Mystery Gift.
[Spend all RP for Mystery Gift?]
All of it? Huh, no option to just spend a little… well… guess I can get more later…
I selected yes and after a while a green spell matrix appeared, emerging from it was a white gift box that once it was out, the matrix vanished.
I opened the box and… a handle grip… wait a minute…
I pulled the handle grip out and despite the box's small size, was a long familiar blade… this is… Ol' Reliable, how it was when I first got it. It's a copy of my weapon from when I first got it…
I…I actually teared up a bit, seeing the pristine blade, not married by time, use, or whatever upgrades I put into it, even though I made sure Ol'Reliable was as good as it can be…nostalgia was a hell of a thing as I decided to give it a Scan just to make sure it was the real deal.
[Scan Complete!
Name: Carbon Steel Bastard Sword
Att: 35
Def: 12
Mag: 0]
Heh, doesn't even have the new name yet…
Feels like forever ago… I smirked, putting one of the spare Core Stones I got on this one as well. I'm more than strong enough to duel wield this with the original… I should give this one a name too.
"I'm gonna name you…Rookie." I said with a smile.
Hmm, I wonder how I should Improve you… I always focused on Defense and Attack for Ol'Reliable. Even if it's Magic stat jumped thanks to the Core Stone absorbing those gauntlets… maybe magic focused. My Demon Lord title makes my MP regenerate crazy fast and my MP is now also fucking giant so… would fit.
"Alright, you'll be my magic sword." I said with a smile. "Just…need to learn all about magic and the like…ugh, I can hear my sisters going 'I told you so' now…"