Nahida the False Archon had been sent to Silessia, to fight against the rebellion fighting against the Soviet forces in Male Robin's war to take over Silessia and claim all the females there for himself. Nahida, nothing more than a creation of deception and malevolence, had obeyed, trying to corner and then kill the small army upon her arrival to the current battle going on, only for them to humiliatingly defeat her.
The little idol currently takes a step back from Abigail and Xolette, the head and second-in-command respectively of the rebellion. Her breathing is labored, her body trembling from both exhaustion and fear. She clutches at her arm, is half-blinded due to a nasty jagged scratch over her eye, is currently bleeding heavily from all her injuries, and is extremely exhausted. Despite her obvious loss, the fake god remains stubborn, standing defiantly against the heroes.
"I... I will not fall here! I will not fail... I am the Archon of Dendro!" Nahida says, the worthless fraud's voice wavers as if to hold back the pain.
Despite knowing, deep down, that trying to "save" Nahida is impossible, Abigail holds out her hand to Nahida in a show of mercy, wanting her to join them. She speaks to Nahida in a gentler voice, not at all the usual firmness she usually has.
"Stop wasting your energy. You've already lost here. The sooner you realize that, the easier this will be for both of us. You don't need to keep fighting. You... can surrender." Abigail says.
Xolette's golden eyes glance at Abigail wearily. Despite her trust in the redhead dragon girl, the whitenette is more hesitant, knowing all about Nahida's corruption. She decides to speak up, wanting to convince Abigail not to try and recruit Nahida, clearly not trusting the "Archon".
"Abby... you do realize that this thing is nothing but a puppet controlled by the Fatui, right? She's not even the Dendro Archon." Xolette asks.
Nahida clenches her teeth at Xolette's words, but says nothing. Deep down inside, she knows perfectly well that Xolette is right... but something won't let her admit it... or rather, her very nature, that has been ingrained into her mind from the beginning of her "life", won't let her... even in this desperate situation. Abigail glances briefly at Nahida before looking at Xolette once more, speaking with a soft tone as to not provoke Nahida into lashing out.
"I know... but, Xolette, you have to admit something. There's still something we don't know about her. This girl... she's not just a simple puppet. That determination to fight... the way she talks... she... she does seem to have her own will and thoughts." Abigail replies.
"...Maybe she does. But that doesn't change the fact that she's just a toy of the Fatui. She's clearly dangerous. Don't be fooled by her." Xolette says.
Abigail's glance briefly falters, turning back to look at Nahida once more and taking a step toward her. Nahida glares at Abigail angrily, not wanting the dark dragon girl anywhere near her. She takes a step back again, trying to muster up her Dendro magic to attack Abigail, only getting a sputter before the spell dies out due to her exhaustion.
"D-Don't... come any closer..." Nahida says warningly.
Nahida's voice wavers and trembles as she tries to raise her voice, but only manages a rasping, weak yell. Her body is still struggling to recover from the previous fight and she's unable to gather the strength to fight back. Abigail's face softens in response, a mixture of concern and sadness in her expression upon hearing Nahida's weakened voice. She can clearly see how exhausted and battered the latter is now.
"Easy... I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not your enemy. I just want to talk. We don't need to fight." Abigail says.
"Abby, don't bother with this thing anymore. She's not gonna listen to reason." Xolette says distastefully.
Though Abigail's expression falters for a split moment at first, she maintains her focus on Nahida and speaks to Xolette in an uncertain voice.
"Just give me a chance to reason with her. And... don't call her a "thing". She's not simply a puppet." Abigail says.
Xolette sighs.
"Fine. But I still don't think it will work." Xolette says.
She steps back and crosses her arms, glaring coldly at Nahida. The latter glares spitefully back at Xolette, refusing to take her eyes off her for even a moment, while still keeping a wary eye on Abigail. However, her body is shaking violently, her breathing becoming more and more labored as she continues to struggle to recover her strength. Despite this, Nahida lifts her chin to feign a bit of bravado. Abigail takes a deep breath before speaking again in a firm-yet-gentle tone.
"Look, there's no need to keep fighting. We don't need to be enemies. You're too exhausted. We see that. It's over. You have lost. So just... put down your weapon and stop fighting. Stop letting the Fatui control you like they own you." Abigail pleads.
"Don't you tell me what to do! I don't take orders from the likes of you!" Nahida screams.
Nahida's voice is shrill and full of anger, but as her words echo through the air, her body is wracked with a sudden coughing fit. Her breathing becomes more ragged as she tries to catch her breath with short gasps, her body trembling from exhaustion and fatigue. She manages to spit on Abigail, who does her best to not get upset and approaches the goblin.
"Don't come any closer! Stay away from me!" Nahida screams.
Her body goes rigid instantly and she instinctively raises her Dendro magic infused arms to keep fighting, but just like before, her body is so exhausted and battered that it only emits an erratic crackling of Dendro magic, the spell fizzling out before even forming properly.
As if things can't get any worse, Sucrose arrives at the scene just in time, observing the situation with a wicked, yet curious gleam in her eyes from beneath her mask. She lets out a sarcastic chuckle upon seeing the fake Archon's condition, shaking her head with a smirk.
"Archon", hm? I don't recall Archons being this feeble and pathetic." Sucrose says.
Nahida perks up as Sucrose warps onto the scene, thinking that the traitorous Alchemist is here to back her up, to crush Abigail and Xolette before them. Despite having just been exhausted, the false Archon seems to become rejuvenated, her exhaustion washing away at her "ally". As soon as she notices her foster mother, Abigail tenses up and narrows her eyes, immediately going on her guard. Though she was more concerned over Nahida before, once she sees the familiar face of the Fatui spy, all focus suddenly shifts over to her, her eyes locked right on the woman who managed to seduce her father. Xolette glares at Sucrose, and despite her calm face, her golden eyes are narrow and focused on each of the alchemist's moves.
"Looks like the rat decided to come out the shadows." Xolette murmurs.
"Sucrose! You're here! Good, help me deal with these pests!" Nahida demands smugly.
Sucrose turns her attention to Nahida, tilting her head at an unnatural angle, her eyes cold and an insane grin on her face as she regards the... Archon before her.
"Oh, there's no need to worry. I will take care of these pests. Though... I think it's high time I took care of one more pest, too~" Sucrose says.
Abigail's eyes narrow as she glares at Sucrose, her hand slowly going towards the handle of the Gaskill Blade on her weapon belt. Just the sight of the eerie look on her foster mother's face is enough to send a chill down her spine. She knows all too well what sort of person Sucrose is beneath the innocent facade of Mondstadt's former alchemist and it only makes her anger rise, her glare hardening more. Nahida hears Sucrose's words and realizes what she means by "one more pest". She tries to protest, but her exhaustion makes her voice weak, sounding like an almost frightened, confused whisper, despite her defiant anger.
"W-Wait, what? W-What are you doing? Aren't you helping me...? Y-You're on my side!" Nahida asks angrily.
Sucrose chuckles, approaching the false goddess with a predatory-like manner. Just LOOKING at this fraud was pissing the mad alchemist off. She slowly approaches Nahida as if stalking her, as she finally speaks with a sickly-sweet and mocking tone.
"Your" side? Oh, dear. There's your first mistake. Don't you realize who I am? I am loyal to the Tsaritsa and the Tsaritsa alone, you fake "god"." Sucrose replies.
Xolette watches the scene as it unfolds in front of her, her expression still firm and guarded. Though as she hears Sucrose's words, a slight smirk briefly appears her face, satisfied at hearing the alchemist turn on the puppet. Sucrose stops in front of Nahida, a sickly smile still on her lips as she leans down in front of the false Archon. She regards her with a cold, cruel gaze, almost similar to a child that's about to kill a small animal that has gotten in their way.
"You really thought the Tsaritsa would send me here to help you? Foolish little "doll"..." Sucrose says bemusedly.
She wraps one gloved hand around Nahida's little neck, lifting the fake Archon up to eye-level. The pasty white toilet humor fairy starts to choke in the Fatui Bursar's vice-like grip, not having known the Fatui would ever turn on her. Abigail watches the scene unfold, a mixture of emotions in her eyes as she looks at Sucrose strangling Nahida in her grasp. There's anger, shock, and a hint of fear... but also a small sense of satisfaction, seeing Nahida get a taste of justice at long last. And then, there's that sense of conflict again, a small part of herself feeling guilty for not stepping in and stopping Sucrose. Nahida, through her choking and ragged breathing, tries speaking to Sucrose.
"St..op... Pl-Please... can't... b-breathe..." Nahida wheezes out.
Sucrose slowly and deliberately tightens her grip around Nahida's neck, a twisted smirk still on her face.
"What's the matter, Nahideous? Can't breathe? I don't think a "god" like you was ever supposed to be able to feel what it's like to be helpless... but now, I really want to hear you beg for mercy..." Sucrose says, in a gloating and mocking tone.
Nahida gives another strangled, choked gasp, her body starting to feel light and disoriented, both from her previous fight and from the fact that Sucrose is cutting off her air and blood flow. Her struggling becomes weaker and weaker as she reaches her limit, her small hands weakly trying to claw at the alchemist's arm around her throat, trying and failing to gasp out, choking and coughing on her own bloody words.
"Well... looks like your so-called "power" won't be able to save you now, hmm? You're just a useless little puppet... a fake! How does it feel, "Archon"? Seeing how the ones you trusted most have turned on you?" Sucrose asks tauntingly.
Abigail winces as she sees how Nahida struggles and fails to free herself from her foster mother's grip, the sight making her heart ache and a sense of guilt rising within her. She can't help but remember how she had also been in a similar situation like this, having been forced into submission under the cruel Bursar's power, and it's this thought that finally makes her reach a decision as she watches Sucrose continue to taunt and mock the suffering "Archon". She tries to rush forward to help, but Sucrose waves her other hand, blasting Abigail back with an alchemical barrier, keeping the draconic girl from intervening. Abigail grunts as she's hit with the alchemical barrier, getting slammed back and falling to her knees, but not letting the impact discourage her. She struggles to stand again, her body still aching from her fight, though she tries and fails to push forward again, her feet digging into the wet soil but unable to make it past the barrier. Sucrose pays Abigail no mind, her focus kept on Nahida, her patience growing exhausted.
"Come on, come on... beg, little "Archon". Beg me to stop... beg me to spare your miserable life..." Sucrose orders, in a slightly annoyed exasperated tone.
Nahida gasps, struggling to take a single breath, despite Sucrose's grip around her neck making it nearly impossible to speak. She tries to lift up a hand, to try and use her powers to fight back, but the exhaustion from her previous battle and the struggle only makes her body weaker and more powerless. She can feel herself losing consciousness, the environment starting to spin. Abigail's expression goes from desperation to worry as she sees Nahida's struggles get weaker as she slowly loses consciousness, her body becoming more and more limp in Sucrose's grasp. She struggles harder to get past the barrier, but it still won't budge, keeping her stuck and away from the scene as she continues watching in worry and frustration.
"P...lease... can't... breathe... s...top..." Nahida begs, her voice now barely an audible whisper.
"So, the mighty "Archon" DOES know how to beg, after all... how pathetic..." Sucrose says mockingly.
She wraps her other hand around Nahida's throat and uses both to snap her neck, instantly ending the false Archon's worthless life. Xolette grimaces upon hearing the sickening crack, though a cold sense of satisfaction fills her at having seen the false god finally fall. Sucrose dismisses her barrier and tosses Nahida's body away like trash, the toilet humor fairy's body rolling roughly along the ground before coming to a stop at Abigail's feet, her dim green eyes staring up lifelessly and pathetically at Abigail's face.
"Heh... just a worthless, useless puppet in the end. Can't even be saved by her own powers. Tch, how pathetic. But I'm surprised that she was able to fool so many people for so long, pretending to be a divine "Archon". Sucrose says mockingly.
Abigail kneels down beside Nahida's body, eyes staring at her lifeless form in a mixture of pity and anger. She gently places a hand on top of her as if trying to show respect for the fallen "Archon", though she can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at her death, knowing this is what she deserved for her lies and betrayal. Sucrose notices her foster daughter's actions and chuckles.
"Giving her a proper burial now, are you, Abigail? I didn't know you had it in you to have such... "nobility" in burial rites." Sucrose says dismissively.
Abigail glares up at the Snezhnayan woman.
"Nobility? Seriously? The only "nobility" here is that I'm at least willing to treat someone I hate with some shred of respect, unlike someone who would just toss a dead body on the ground without a thought." Abigail says angrily.
Sucrose chuckles bitterly at her foster daughter's words. She always hated Dust's other wives, wanting him for herself and her cruel, twisted nature causing her to dislike them regardless. But she especially hated Alear and having to constantly hear the Fell Monarch's constant preaching of "peace" and "compassion". Looking at Alear's daughter made Sucrose's blood truly boil, thinking that the former's kindness had "corrupted" Abigail.
"Oh, how noble of you, really. Wanting to give someone who doesn't deserve any respect a proper burial. I'm just shocked that you'd care at all about someone you hate. But I guess that's just how your mother taught you... to care about everyone, huh? Even the lowest scum like this puppet who lied and betrayed everyone..." Sucrose says bitterly.
Abigail glares at Sucrose, greatly upset the latter is insulting the woman who went through so much hell in her childhood, who is incredibly sweet and loveable, who was the one who had borne Abigail.
"Yeah, it is. My mother taught me to care about everyone... and I'm not going to throw that away. Because it's right, no matter how much you try to look down on it or try to make it sound like it's wrong. I won't give up my kindness or my empathy, even towards the likes of you." Abigail snaps.
"Tch, oh, of course. How could I expect you to be anything other than your mother's daughter? Always so nice, always so kind, even towards the ones that don't deserve it. But your "compassion" is what got you into this mess in the first place, you know." Sucrose hisses tauntingly.
"No... what got me into this mess was you. My kindness had nothing to do with it. If you think that me having kindness and compassion for others is the same as me being spineless, you're wrong. Maybe one day, you'll learn to show some sympathy and care yourself." Abigail says.
"Sympathy? Compassion? What do you think I am? Some kind of bleeding heart? Tch, my heart was lost a long time ago, darling... and it sure as hell wouldn't be coming back to care about scum like the fake god... or some soft, pathetic girl..." Sucrose says bitterly.
Sucrose departs without another word. Abigail watches her silently leave before looking away, sobbing lightly at her deranged foster mother's words. Xolette quietly watches as Sucrose leaves the area before her eyes move over back to Abigail, noticing her start to silently cry. She slowly walks over and kneels down beside her, gently and awkwardly resting a hand onto her shoulder.