Disclaimer: Kirby belongs to Nintendo and HAL Laboratory.


Vesa currently sat in a chair in Hyness's office the next day while the wizard was in the middle of working on the reconfiguration device, following the instructions on the blueprint. Holding a booklet in her hands, she flipped through the pages and carefully read through the text and diagrams. On an end table, a book on basic enchantment spells sat open.

She didn't hear much from Fecto Elfilis since she remembered them telling her they were going to try reassembling the DNA within them after their time in the lab turned it into a messy slurry. For now, she had Elfilin perching in her lap. All the while, she noticed as Hyness reached for a mechanical part nearby. Standing up, she placed the small chinchilla into the chair before she approached the wizard.

"Need any help, sir?" she asked.

Hyness paused and shifted his gaze towards Vesa.

"Hmm," he replied, "I suppose I could use your input; I can't just remove the priority system entirely. It's part of his core being and to remove it would require sundering their soul again, which is obviously not an option. We can replace them with other potential priorities, but it'll be hard."

Vesa and Hyness lifted the mechanical component before them before they carried it over and attached it to the contraption.

"I was planning to ask this later anyway but now works," Hyness asked, "what do you think we should change them to? You're the only one they trust the most, so I feel like your opinion is most important here."

"I did notice Elfilis would try to do what it takes to make me happy," Vesa said, "but I'm sure that can't be the only priority. Perhaps they can focus on defense or something?"

Vesa checked the toolbox and reached for a screwdriver.

"I'll do my best to ensure that their priorities are changed, but it's not going to be easy," Hyness told her, "I'm almost finished with the code injector; this should push new code into their biomatter and will trigger a change on a rapid scale to their internal coding. They'll likely be placed into a short term coma as the changes take place. I don't know what effect this may have on their mental state, but I'm hopeful they'll be minor if they exist at all. With how heavily they modified themself compared to their original design, it's hard to say."

Hyness flashed a syringe before Vesa, allowing her to carefully examine it.

"The code I'm using is based on their original biology," he continued, "things could potentially go wrong if we aren't careful, which is why I'm doing my best to ensure there are no mistakes. Given how drastically they have shifted from how they used to be, to say nothing of the potential effects the experimentation that those primitive—uhm, no offense."

Hyness paused as he blushed.

"None taken," Vesa assured him.

"Anyway," Hyness sighed, "there is no telling what they did to them that we still aren't aware of. Elfilis was constantly slipping in and out of awareness back then. Even after you were taken into their pocket dimension, there is even less they are aware of, having a mental breakdown for large portions of time after that, slipping into and out of insanity, spiraling further and further. And even then, they were experimented on for who knows how long after you were sealed away. There's no telling what might crop up in the future due to that or what lingering effects they might be under. To say nothing of their currently patchwork soul."

Vesa listened carefully as she installed screws to secure the machine parts together. She didn't really need to ask much else of how dire the situation Hyness was dealing with. Checking the progress on the assembly of the contraption, she mentally calculated how much time was needed before it was completed.

"If I mess this up, it could be catastrophic," Hyness proclaimed, "and I don't think I can do this without some kind of error. The best I can hope for right now is simply to change their priorities and keep them alive. If there are issues that result from it, then we can fix them. For now, saving Gooey and potentially the world, will need to be good enough. They're just so radically different than from when they were born that I don't think I can manage this without a sample of their current DNA, and it would need to be a lot or we likely wouldn't be able to get enough to fully map their changes."

Vesa set down the screwdriver as Hyness tinkered with what resembled a large needle attached to a large mechanism covered in runic script.

"In just a few minutes, it should be done," Hyness continued, "there are two ways we can do this. One of them is quite deceptive, but likely our best option. The first option is that you poke them with the needle when they are distracted. They trust you and you can get close enough to do it. And they're also so deep into their affection for you, you could probably ask them to kill themself and they would do it without a thought."

Vesa swallowed a nervous lump in her throat.

"And if that fails?"

"The second option is that we get Meta Knight to try it instead. He's likely to manage it, but it could result in collateral damage or even the Injector being destroyed once Elfilis catches on to what he is trying to do. If you don't think you can do it, then that is plan B."

Vesa took a deep breath and nodded.

"Ok," she declared, "I'll try."

Vesa held out her right palm. Hyness handed her the needle-like device the size of her forearm.

"All you have to do is prick them with the needle," Hyness instructed, "the device will do the rest. It will immediately activate a signal that will disable them for emergency updates. I lost the original device meant to do this with the destruction of our planet, but this should do the job and start updating their code. Once they're comatose, I can take a better look at them and decide from there what our next steps will be after the update."

"Ok," Vesa nodded, "here goes!"

"Now be careful. If they see it for too long. you might be in danger," Hyness warned her, "make sure to keep it hidden until you intend to use it."

Vesa turned to leave the office. Sauntering down the hall, she tucked the device beneath her apprentice robes. Pausing at the top of the stairs, she took a moment to remember where Elfilis was heading while she was on her way to Hyness's office earlier. She took a step into another hall and made a beeline for Elfilis's room. She observed as they sat on the mattress still in deep meditation. Sighing, she slowly approached them and sat down next to them. Elfilis paused and shifted their gaze towards her.

"Are you feeling ok?" they asked her with a frown, "you look kind of down."

Vesa shrugged as Elfilis gave her a peck on the forehead.

"I just wanted to check on you," she replied, "how far along are you?"

"This project is likely going to take several years," Elfilis admitted, "a century if I don't make a breakthrough of some kind."

"I…I see."

Vesa leaned closer to Elfilis, allowing them to wrap their arm around her, their chest rumbling with deep purrs. As soon as they closed their eyes, she quietly pulled out the device. Handling it carefully, she pricked the needle into their thigh. When she heard a startled squeak from them, she quickly stashed the device back beneath her robes. She watched as Elfilis slumped over in seconds, their body going limp. She could merely hope the injection she gave them started working by now. Wiggling out of their arm, she placed her hand on their head for a brief moment.

"You're going to be ok," she whispered, "I'm sure of it."

Vesa carefully tucked Elfilis underneath the blanket. She slowly stood from the mattress and tiptoed out of the room. She didn't hesitate as she sprinted back towards Hyness's office. She knocked on the door and waited until it opened before she set foot inside.

"I did as you asked," Vesa informed, "it should be working now."

"Ok, good," Hyness nodded, "I'll be there momentarily."

While Hyness looked over some kind of tablet and typed something onto it, Vesa approached Elfilin and scooped him into her arms. While she grabbed her book on basic enchantments, the small chinchilla slowly opened his eyes.

"Something feels funny," Elfilin mumbled.

Vesa simply smiled as she ran her finger along Elfilin's head.

"How was your nap?"

"I-I feel weird," Elfilin stuttered while he twitched his ears, "like everything is kinda floaty."

Hyness gave Elfilin a curious stare.

"Looks like he's getting a bit of feedback," Hyness commented, "I doubt he's going to experience any changes. He'll be fine, just a little bit fuzzy headed for a while."

"Huh?" Elfilin blurted.

Hyness left his office with Vesa following close behind. The magician didn't say much as he led her into Elfilis's bedroom. Once inside, Vesa leaned her back on the wall with the small chinchilla in her arms.

"Alright," Hyness informed, "now they should already be taking in the new information and their major priorities should start to shift. It's likely Dark Matter would still be something they'll remain wary of, but I believe this should remove it from the list of things they have to do. I'll remain here and fix any issues that might arise. You're welcome to stay here or leave if you wish."

Vesa nodded softly as Hyness continued to operate the datapad in his grasp.

"Thank you, sir."

She noticed as Elfilin yawned. She watched as Elfilis's fur bristled in waves starting from the center of their chest down the rest of their body before settling again. Vesa stepped out of the room and crossed the hall into her own bedroom. She gently placed Elfilin onto the pillow as he slowly closed his eyes. All she could do now was leave her bedroom and wander down the corridor. Stopping at a corner of the hallway, she took a moment to think of what she wanted to do. Turning to another corridor, she spotted Fransisca passing by.

"Oh," Vesa blurted, waving her hand, "afternoon, Fran!"

Fransisca stopped in her tracks and shifted her gaze towards the human.

"Good afternoon, Vesa," Fransisca nodded softly.

Vesa clasped her hands in front of her.

"I was thinking of doing a jigsaw puzzle in the game room," Vesa replied, "you ever did those before?"

Fransisca placed her hand on her chin.

"I have," Fransisca admitted, "although the puzzles we tended to do back home tended to be enchanted to move through the air, there is little difference in all honesty aside from minor enchantments. The more technological based side of our culture tended to play most of their games with holograms."

Vesa placed her hand behind her head with a nervous giggle.

"Well, the puzzles I got for the game room lack enchantments," she added, "if you want, you're welcome to join in."

Fransisca took a moment to think.

"Oh," she crooned, "that would be nice! I'm not really doing anything, currently, so something to do would make a good change of pace."

With a soft smile, Vesa led Fransisca over to the game room. She browsed the shelf and picked out a 300 piece puzzle box. She took note of the landscape photo of Grape Garden printed on the box. Fransisca examined the chairs for a few seconds before she conjured up a chair made of ice and sat down. Vesa brought the box over to the table and opened it, pouring the puzzle pieces into a pile and spreading them across the table. From there, she sat down and started searching for edge pieces. Fransisca started matching pieces based on surroundings, focused on putting together certain recognizable objects.

Who knows how long it would take for them to complete this particular puzzle?


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