The story has elements of both Dark War storyline and DemonxBunny's Masters of the Multiverse, so all credit goes to both Impact Wrestling and DemonxBunny. I do not own the characters. I own most of the OCs- 1 OC is owned by XoMissDaisyoX. The story is entirely fictional.

Characters may look and act different than they do in real life. This was done intentionally, and things will change over time in this story, so please be patient.

Rating: M, for violence, coarse language, and mature themes/events that will appear throughout this story. Remember, this is Femslash, so if that's not your thing, you may not like this story.

Pairings: Allie/Rosemary (DemonxBunny), others over time.

Chapter 46: The Grim Reality by

Jurassicfatt

Allie's POV, Tent, Omni Sports Tournament Grounds, Afternoon

Waking up from my nap, I rub the sleep from my eyes and sit up. Looking around the room, I notice Rosemary in the chair. Hand still clutching a knife, she covers her eyes with her hand, resting. Slowly getting off the bed, I tiptoe to the washroom, so I don't wake her. Taking some water and wetting a towelette, I scrub dirt and grime off my face. Due to water shortages, each tent has a limited supply. Showers will only be available in a day or two, as will transport to get us out of here. I'll gladly hold off on showering if it means hightailing from here. I finish cleaning my face, placing the towelette back on the sink and staring at myself in the small mirror. My hair is a mess, my eyes have bags, and I have small cuts and bruises along my neck and right cheek. It's been a whirlwind of danger, terror and shock… And I'm still processing it. I feel like a broken record. Saying that over and over in my mind for hours now. Or longer.

I was so beat when we got back to the tent, I literally just went to bed. It's been eventful, to say the least. Rosemary and I went to check on Rebel, Chelsea and Allysin before. Rebel has a concussion, but luckily the doctors said rest and certain spells will help bring down her pain. She's been ordered not to push herself and they're keeping her for observation. I told the doctors to tell us if there's any changes. Chelsea has some cuts but nothing major. Allysin, on the other hand, has a fractured arm and wrist, a slash going across her stomach and bruises along her chin, face and neck. They checked her for a concussion, but it seems to be slight. The healers said it might have to do with her hybrid Warlord biology, though they couldn't say for certain. Allysin grumbled at their comments, nearly staring the nurse who called her a half-breed to death. Chelsea slowly removed any loose objects beside her after the incident… just in case. I've seen what Allysin can do with her bare hands. I can't imagine what she'd do with a bedpan or metal tray. Chelsea has refused to leave Allysin's side, but hugged me after I told them they could stay at our tent when she is discharged. She told me she'd think about it. Chelsea is actually a nice person. Allysin is too. I think.

Walking out of the restroom, my eyes go towards Rosemary, who is still resting. Why is she acting so different? She looked like she was genuinely going to hurt that assassin, Gail. The effect of the amulet has never been on for so long. When she was fighting the bridesmaids, she was bloodthirsty. Not that she wasn't violent before. She kills Warlords on the regular and pulled out one's brains. It was… the way she fought. Maybe because I've spent so much time with her, but I can tell there's something way different. Her threats towards Gail remind me of how she reacted after Kiera saved me from Jeb. I need to know how to turn it off and get Courtney back. Grabbing a jug of water with lemon, I pour myself a glass. Swishing it around, I take a sip. The lemon's citrus comes out strong, making me pucker while refreshing my mouth and calming me down. Taking another sip, I hear Rosemary start to shift, then open her eyes and stand up. Smiling, I pour her a glass and hand it to her.

"Hey." I whisper.

"Hello Bunny." she responds, taking the cup and sipping from it.

"How did you sleep?"

"We were not asleep. Merely resting our eyes."

"Right." I state, chuckling.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing." I turn, noticing the look on her face. Her eyes look around, anywhere but at me. "Rosemary, what's wrong?"

"Bunny." she states, her tone serious but calm. "Sit down, please."

"Okay. Is this about the amulet?" I ask.

"We said sit down." she repeats, this time with more authority in her voice. Biting my lip, I do as I'm told. Sitting and holding my cup, Rosemary takes the chair beside me. "We apologize, but this is important."

"Okay. I'm listening. What's going on?"

Taking a breath, she starts. "We are not the same person you knew."

I furrow my brows. "What are you talking about? You're still Rosemary."

"Yes. In a matter of speaking, that much is true. But, you see, at the same time, we're not."

"I… I don't understand." I admit. Rosemary rubs a hand on the back of her neck. Snapping her fingers, she points to me.

"Back in the Observatory. Do you remember what we went through?"

"Well yeah. You nearly died in front of me after you contacted the Shadow. I had to give you CPR and Cal used his magic on you. Then Su and her guards came in and threw you into that glass. I thought… I thought you were dying." I state with emotion in my voice. Wiping my eyes, I smile at her. "But you came back and saved me. And our friends."

"Yes. We did." she says, before sighing. "But do you know how we were able to do that?" Shaking my head, she rubs her face. "How do we explain this?" she asks rhetorically.

"Explain what?"

Staring back at me, Rosemary puts her hand on the table. She points to herself, "We are the Shadow's dark herald. The Demon assassin." I nod. "The Demonic Soul. We are Rosemary."

"Yeah?"

"But not the same as before." she explains, gritting her teeth. I stare at her, confused. "When the Shadow contacted Courtney Rush, he offered her a chance to become stronger. Faster. More skilled in combat. To be part of the Hive. Are we clear so far?"

"Yes."

"In order to become a Demonic Soul, who serves the Shadow, one must enmesh their soul with several others. Our Demonic Soul is split into 7 counterparts. Each one representing a deadly sin, if we are not mistaken."

"Okay. I think I get it."

"You do?"

"Yeah. Courtney did meditation to contact the Shadow. And he made it easier to connect to the Hive."

"Yes! Yes, exactly! It was because of her emotions that we were able to take control. That is the reason why the amulet shined so brightly. It was our ability to give Rush what she needed during a battle." she exclaims, her tone full of excitement and dual-coloured eyes lighting up.

"Wait, that's why it used to shine? Because you were taking control?"

"Yes. In order to protect you, we were able to fuse our souls temporarily with hers, allowing us to control her movements. Her emotions became more raw and powerful as a result." That does explain why it sounded like Courtney had multiple voices, if there were 6 other people speaking with her. My mind recalls the kiss we shared back in Pevonia, when she put on the amulet the first time. Trying to avoid blushing at the memory, I continue asking.

"So does that mean she'll have the full power of… what is it, the Hive?"

"Yes, the Hive. Not the full power, but significantly more connection than previously. We would not have been able to exist on the mortal plain had it not been for Rush allowing us to join, giving her full access to our abilities and shared knowledge. Our enemies don't exactly make things easy. But we will have no problem taking them off their pedestal and putting them where they belong. In enough time, we may even be able to teleport."

"That's wonderful." I gush. How would that even work? Hold on, focus. "Uh, Rosemary? Can I ask another question?"

"Of course."

"Can I speak to Courtney?" I question.

Rosemary freezes, before covering her face and blowing out a breath. "This is much harder than we believed it would be." Rosemary whispers.

"What do you mean? You said there's 7 parts of a Demonic Soul. Obviously, then, Courtney should be a part of them. It's been a little while since we've spoken. Usually, the amulet's effects wear off by now. You said the breathing techniques we did before wouldn't work. What should I do instead?"

I can see her thinking over her answer, rubbing her face again. She brings her hands up, raising her right hand. "Bunny… when Courtney became part of the Hive. When she accepted the Shadow's gift, she enmeshed her soul," Rosemary then locks her hands together, "with us. To become a Demonic Soul."

"Yeah, I got that. What I'm asking is how do I speak with Courtney?"

"Let us finish. When she did that, when Courtney joined, we, Rosemary, were born. And she gave up her free will." Rosemary states. "She no longer has control… We do."

My eyes widen at Rosemary's assertion. "You. You possessed her?"

Rosemary does a 50/50 gesture with her hands. "In a manner of speaking, the Shadow did. We would never have been able to come alive had she not agreed."

"So, this is just temporary, then? Just a means for Courtney to beat Certrius and Mitchell."

"No." Rosemary asserts. "This change is permanent."

I sit back into my chair. Looking at her, my eyes starting to water, I plead. "But I want to talk to Courtney. H-How can I talk to her? Is she even aware of what's happening to her?"

Rosemary gives me a grave look. "She is. Her soul is part of ours. But the only way for her to commune through us is for her to accept that our souls are permanently connected."

"How long does that take?" I question.

"We… There's no definite period."

"Meaning?" I ask, a lone tear rolling down my cheek.

"We don't know… In fact, we don't know if she'll ever accept us."

I feel a huge wave of guilt hit me like a gut punch. I put my hands on my head, covering my mouth as the wheels start turning. That's why she was crying in the observatory. That's why she said she only had one option left. She didn't want to do it, but she felt she had to because of me. I already got Courtney in trouble with her job and nearly got her killed multiple times. Now, I just took away her free will and turned her into something she didn't even want to be! I'm so fucking stupid!

Tears roll down my face freely, my shoulders heavy and my elbows hitting the table. I sob into my hands, unable to hold in my emotions any longer. "I ruined her hic life. I ruined everything fo-or her. S-She'd have been hic fine without me. Stupid! I'm so goddamn s-stupid!" I state, wiping at my eyes. Rosemary looks concerned, holding her hand out but retracting it quickly. She grabs her handkerchief and wets it, trying to wipe my tears. But I push her away, covering my face with my hands and sobbing. "C-Courtney… Why? W-Why did you do this? Why does this keep happ-p-pening to people I c-care about-t?" I wail, my voice cracking. Cal is in the hospital. Rebel and Allysin have concussions. People are mourning their loved ones and now Rosemary's turned into… someone else? All because of me. Me. Me. Fucking me! Why does everything keep going wrong? Why is it everywhere I go, suffering follows? Is there anything I can't fuck up?!

"Y-You can hold us." Rosemary states, hesitantly, breaking my train of thought.

I pause, putting my hands down and sniffling. "W-What?" I state softly, turning towards her.

"You can hold us. I-If it gives you comfort." she offers, her voice low and eyes staring at me. "We do not usually permit such practices. But… we do not like seeing you cry."

I look up at her in a mixture of confusion and shock. Her hair, tied into a bun, brings out her 2 coloured eyes as they blink at me. Her face paint cuts across her features like 3 scars, but her gaze seems softer and… apologetic. She remains by my side, unmoving. She's turned towards me, uncrossing her arms and keep her feet in my direction. Rosemary's beauty is still there, but her soul has changed. I'm dealing with a new person. I don't even know what to think. Slowly standing up and sniffling, I check to see her eyes. She seems hesitant, unsure of what to do, but doesn't stop me when I come closer. Should I do this? Will this weird her out? But if it does, why would she offer? Pushing away my fear, I wipe my eyes, open my arms and give what is, by far, the most awkward hug of my life. I slowly hug Rosemary, holding myself against her for comfort. Rosemary pats my head, her body rigid, as I cry and sniffle into her shoulder. Moments pass as she continues to caress and pat my head. Over time, I start to calm down, my breathing getting slower and the sobs dying down. Her body is as before and she still has that dark honey scent like Courtney did. I start to feel myself get hot from being so close to her. Breaking away, I swipe at my eyes. "Thank you."

"There is no need for apologies." she tells me.

"I know, it's just. If you're a new person, I didn't want to make things… Awkward. Strangers don't exactly let people just cry into their shoulders."

"We would not have offered had we felt repulsed by it." I guess that's somewhat comforting. "Bunny, there is something else."

"What? Oh God, did I end up breaking some sort of demonic code with the hug? I'm so sorry."

Rosemary puts her hand up, shaking her head, a little smile on her lips. "Nothing like that. Please don't keep apologizing. We… We made a promise that we intend to keep." she states sheepishly.

I raise an eyebrow, wondering what could make her so skittish. Her next move makes my breath hitch in my throat, as Rosemary goes down onto a knee, looking up at me. I can see her fidgeting, her right knee shaking. She must be just as nervous as I am. Before I can ask her what she's doing, she begins speaking in a projecting voice.

"Allie Bunny Dennis, we are the Shadow's dark herald. The Death dealer. Heir apparent to the Undead Realm. The Demonic Soul. We are Rosemary. Our meatsuit, the Courtney Rush, was a brave, calculating fighter. She did not choose to become us because she was forced to. She did so because she cared for you. Our knowledge of sentiment is rudimentary, at best. But we could see how important you were to her." Rosemary places a hand over her chest. "She is a part of our soul now. And while she may have given herself to the Shadow's gift, Rush made us promise something when we joined." Rosemary then stares deep into my eyes, as she utters the following words. "We swear, upon blood, blade, and moon, that we shall protect you from all foes. Demon or Realmer. Organic or inorganic. Warlord or minion. Aerial or aquatic. Terrestrial or cosmic. Mortal or Immortal. None shall possess you. None shall harm you. We will fight them until our very last breath, or die trying. This, Bunny, we vow to you. Do you accept us as your protector?" Rosemary declares proudly.

My mouth opens wide and I can't turn away from her gaze. My heart is beating so hard in my chest, it feels likes it's about to pop out. I can feel my face flushing hard. I've never had anyone tell me this in my life. Let alone twice! This time, it seems even more intense than before. My mind is racing and I don't know what to think. On 1 hand, this is a different person. Someone new who took over Courtney's body from what looks like a possession. She serves the Shadow, and we still don't know what all of his intentions are. On the other hand, since taking over, she's done nothing but protect me exactly as Courtney used to. In fact, she's even more assertive than before to ensure our safety. I can usually tell when people are lying, and… the way she looks at me… The way she measures her words. Rosemary may have been skittish going down on her knees in front of me. And trust me, I thought something completely different was about to happen. But… There wasn't an ounce of trepidation in her vow. Just like when Courtney promised to protect me weeks ago, Rosemary seems genuinely truthful with her response. Maybe it's wishful thinking and she's actually the nastiest creature in the world. I like to be optimistic, but I'm not going to just let my guard down.

Maybe shouldn't have just fallen into her embrace minutes earlier then, a small voice in my head sounds out. God, not now. I've been staring at her the whole time, but she remains still. Awaiting my answer. With newfound courage, I give the best response I can. "Y-Yeah. S-Sure. I mean, yes! Yes." Nailed it.

Nodding her head and giving me a slight smile, she rises to her feet and nearly hits the table. Rosemary clears her throat, a small hue of pink on her face. My face is still flushed as we hear the tent's ringing start. Rosemary and I turn towards the entrance, Rosemary pulling out her knife.

"Assassin Rosemary? Ms. Allie? Food delivery?" someone asks from behind the flap. Rosemary goes over and opens, showing a soldier with a cart of food. The tray looks to be carrying nonperishables like canned fruits and crackers.

"Oh God, yes. Please let him in. I feel like my stomach is eating itself." I tell her.

The soldier comes inside as Rosemary holds it open for him, her knife still in hand. "I apologize that this is not as healthy or delicious as the tournament food, but it is still enough to survive. We have some canned fruit and vegetable. Canned Vrandoff meat cubes. And double-baked fire crisps." He tries to hand me the meat cubes, but Rosemary takes it from him.

"She's vegetarian. We shall have those."

The soldier hands her the can and a hand sized crinkly cracker, or fire crisp. He then gives me the canned fruit and vegetable and a cracker. The turquoise can is about the size of my hand. It has an engraving of what looks to be large raspberries and celery on the front. The soldier hands us a jug of water. Must be about 2 litres large. "We realize it is still hot out. We only have so much, but this should keep you until tomorrow's shipment."

"It's okay, we still have the other jug you guys gave us with lemon." I tell him. He eyes it on the table.

"And so, you do. Do you require a knife to open them?"

"We can manage." Rosemary shows her knife.

"Where are these canned goods from?" I ask.

"On another island, there is a facility that makes foods for long-term travel. Most demons prefer to harvest their own, but mining areas tend to be short on arable land. Thus, they created a means to feed their workers using rice and canned food. The Deathtop company donates a tremendous amount of these to us for crises, and we are grateful for them."

"No, of course. It's just, I've never seen them."

"You've never really bought items from a store though, Bunny." Rosemary states. "We procure the food in our home back in Kaduran."

"Ah. If you see rice bags with a Warlord on it, that's Deathtop. Either way, please enjoy your meal."

"Thank you. Oh, also, do the patients get these as well?"

"Yes. We tend to feed the patients first, if they are able to eat. Do you have family or friends in hospital?" he asks.

"Yes. 3 of them."

"My apologies. Such a travesty, but there is light after every darkness."

"Indeed." Rosemary cuts in, holding open the flap. The soldier passes through with his cart and waves, before heading to the next stop, another soldier escorting him. Rosemary sits next to me, opening up my can first. Thanking her, I take a spoon as she opens up her pre-cooked Vrandoff meat cubes. The two of us eat in silence. The crisp is definitely double-baked. It's so hard it felt like I was eating 3 or 4 Doritos stacked together at once, though it tastes like a normal cracker. The fruit-vegetable cocktail was tart and in a floral juice blend that left an aftertaste. We both brush our teeth, before going back to bed. I offer Rosemary the bed but she says she prefers lying in the chair, to be at the ready. She tells me she can feel eyes on us, but didn't go into further details. Does she mean more guards or minions? Sensing my worry, she comes to my bedside.

"We're here, Bunny. No one is coming into the tent without us knowing. We swear."

"Thank you."

"Do try to get some rest. We have to go to the debriefing with Gail again."

I nod. "I know. We're going to figure out that tomorrow morning?"

"Yes. The Assassin's Guild will likely want us to answer any and all questions about our encounters with Mitchell and his minions, as well as the guards who supported him. They have Rush's report about seeing Certrius, which means they will question us on that. As for you, they'll want to know why he wanted you specifically. You can mention the jewel, but perhaps not the origins and prophecy. In all likelihood, they will not believe it unless they have knowledge on the artifact."

"I understand. Then should I tell them everything I know?"

"Perhaps not everything. We cannot say for certain who is our ally yet. We were under the impression the Omni Sports Tournament was safe before Mitchell and his minions attacked. We may have to 'play it by ear', since we can only ascertain certain things once we are in the room with Gail and the others." she explains. "For now, though, please do try to rest."

"I will. Good night, Rosemary." I say, smiling at her.

"Good night, Bunny." she tells me, before going back towards her chair. I pass her a pillow, which she expertly catches, before lying down and closing my eyes, drifting off to sleep.

No One's POV, Unknown

Certrius stands towards the window, looking outside at the sun setting. As Father James Mitchell walks in, the sorcerer takes a breath.

"And?"

"The chamber is working." the advocate responds, wiping the sweat off his brow with a napkin. He throws it away, staring at the sorcerer. Certrius turns to speak to him.

"Who did this? Who killed my harbinger?" Certrius demands, his tone harsh and accusatory.

"Su was my minion long before you, Certrius. This pains me just as much as it does you. It was the assassin. She… She was different. She-"

"Changed."

"Yes. Exactly." Certrius growls in his throat. "You should have seen her eyes. I couldn't believe it."

Certrius looks up. "What colour were they?"

"Solid black, but then one flashed white. I barely was able to see them in the dark, before fleeing the scene."

"And what of Cherry Bomb?"

"I nearly hit her on the way here. Almost wish I did. Luckily, I stopped in time. Havok is seeing to her injuries..." Mitchell states, a sly smile crossing over his face.

Certrius takes a deep breath, smashing his fist against the table. "One eye white. And one black and red… It was him. I tried to warn you. Had I been there…"

"We may still have failed. I've never seen someone counter your magic."

"My magic is based on the Ancient One's. We both know who did this."

Mitchell sucks in a breath. "Yes. And they will fall."

"Oh, I will see to that personally. But this complicates things. A Demonic Soul is involved."

"That- That is not confirmed. They are not as powerful as they claim. The myths are exaggerated greatly, old fri-"

"You have your stories, and we have ours, advocate. 2 colored eyes just like Magdera."

Mitchell spits in disgust, pointing a finger. "We do not speak his name in this convent." Despite the size difference, Mitchell remains rigid, nostrils flaring and staring daggers at the larger sorcerer. Certrius looks at his friend.

"You remember what they did. What they stole from our bloodlines. Power. All for that… disgusting overseer. I have grown tired of his interference!"

Mitchell takes a breath, before grabbing his cane and lowering his hands. "Calm, my friend. He is not here, and will never come. The being is simply trying to screw with our plans, as always."

"We are so close! He interferes right as salvation is in our grasp." he bellows, clutching his fists in front of his face. "He was the one who gave the jewel to that wretched Realmer. A good for nothing bitch who does not deserve the power. And he was the one who gave the gift to the assassin. He has been plotting this for so long just to spite me. If he stood before me now, I would tear him to pieces!"

"Patience. We need to strike back against this."

Certrius sucks in his teeth. "We must choose our strategy carefully. You relied on that Cherry Bomb and she was of no help. No doubt, the assassins saw you flee. They will report back. Tell their Guild of what has happened. There is also the sword I imbued magic into for the bride. They will no doubt detect my signature from it." Certrius asserts. Mitchell dismisses with a hand wave.

"They'll probably say some lonely scavenger took the weapon and used it for its power. And that there is no evidence that you are still alive. They will deny my existence too, most likely."

"But we also another issue. The assassin."

"Old friend, you worry too much. She is weak. Young. Inexperienced." Mitchell explains. "We can outsmart her!"

"Every day, she will grow stronger." Certrius responds, his tone resentful as he ignores the smaller Warlord's comments. "We cannot take the risk. I will not have our plans burn because of a mortal. I'll bury the whole realm and turn it into dust to ensure she dies!"

"You are overreacting. This, this-s will be our center of power. How can we burn it to ash?"

"I will destroy it to ensure she cannot stop us. That cretin… That enforcer, represents the very being we wish to kill. A Demonic Soul… Never did I think in my days I would need to tangle with such a beast. She will impede our plans! Will not stop until she fulfills the will of her Master! One realm is not worth salvaging if that thing is still hunting us!"

"We cannot destroy our home!" Mitchell argues passionately, smashing his cane down with both hands. Certrius glares at Mitchell, before rubbing a hand over his head, his long fingers massaging his own temples. Mitchell takes a deep breath, before continuing. "Certrius… there is no reason to act brash. We have an army. The Sepulcher is being rebuilt. We will destroy them. You will take your place at the center of the Undead Realm. This 'pretender' known as Rosemary will fall. Just as the others have."

Certrius examines his table, looking at vials and tomes. "There will be war."

"Yes. Soon, it will be upon them."

"Upon us." Certrius corrects. "Are you certain your followers are willing to die for this?"

"I guarantee their loyalty. I may not be as adept at combat as Govion was, but I do know some strategy. And I always consult with the general who led us to victory." he states, patting the sorcerer on the back.

"There was a reason Govion chose me to help lead his armies. He knew I was powerful and possessed knowledge he did not." Certrius boasts.

"Yes. I do miss that boy. He was like a son to me. Govion was brutal, calculating and resourceful. As any great warrior should be. He'd spend hours looking over battle plans, poking holes and assessing weaknesses. And every time, he won. Truly special." Mitchell argues.

"Yes. Until the last. But he is gone. His hubris destroying him and leaving nothing in its wake. He cannot return, so there is no point of speaking of the fallen conqueror." Certrius asserts, grabbing the jewel and reading through his tome. Mitchell remains silent, his eyes looking in another direction.

"How far is the Sepulcher now?" he asks.

"I could finish it with no distractions by the end of Harvest. But to give it full power, I need the girl." the sorcerer answers, reading his tome.

"You will have her. But I need your help with the Bride." Mitchell states gravely. "Can you do it?"

Certrius stares down at his feet, contemplating, before coming forward. "I will do what I must. My way. She will never be the same once I affect her corpse, but I suppose you know that already?" Mitchell nods. "Bring me the body!" he yells to his minions, the servants running to the other room frantically, hoisting up a coffin that leaks blood.

Author's Note: Hey everybody. Hope you're all doing well this April. A new chapter for our heroes and what a reveal. Allie had no idea until Rosemary told her what Rush did and she's blaming herself for everything. Poor Bunny. Rosemary trying desperately to explain what she now is. And her vowing to protect Allie, just like Courtney did, was sweet. They have a nice visit from a soldier carrying food. Allie and Rosemary eat the rations provided before going to bed. The next day is the debriefing, so they'll need their strength to answer Gail and the Guild's questions. Meanwhile, Certrius and Mitchell are reeling from their failed attempt to get Allie. Both have different views of what to do with the new Demonic Soul, but they agree that she must be dealt with. And what is Certrius going to do with that coffin? What do they have planned next? How will our heroes deal with such travesty and brutality once the questioning starts? Stay tuned to find out. If you enjoyed this, feel free to leave a review. It is always appreciated. Until next time, stay safe and enjoy your day!