"If you think that sorry excuse of a father ever loved you, then think again!" Luna snapped.
Purple growled. "If you think I'm going to believe you over the man who took me in when your sorry asses abandoned me, then maybe you should think again."
Luna charged forwards, attempting to tackle him. Purple dodged with ease, letting her fall to the ground.
Purple took his chance and ran up the stairs, ducking into a hall closet while he had the chance.
Steadying his nerves, he thought about what to do next. He could always escape, but he had almost no idea where he was. How far out Stick City was.
Where could he go?
Luna all but ripped the door off its hinges. "You're going to die, brat."
"Try it, bitch." He kicked her in the face, pushing past her and scrambling back into the basement. He slammed the door shut and locked it, ducking into the furthest and darkest corner of the room.
He glanced down at his wrists, the bandages slowly peeling off.
God damn it, when did he change them last?
…Oh yeah.
Purple shook away the thoughts, something else catching his attention.
The waterproof Rocket Corp communicator he'd forgotten he had.
Oh, thank fuck.
He quickly turned it on, scrambling to get in touch with someone, anyone.
Chosen, Dark, Vic, Agent, Hunter, I don't fucking care who, just please-
"HOLY SHIT YOUR ALIVE!"
Welp. It was better that it was Hunter.
"Dude, shut up! You're going to get me killed! There is nothing but a locked door and stairs that are between me and my last few seconds alive."
"What?! Dude, where are you?!"
"Eighty or so miles out of town. Don't know where, but it's isolated as shit."
"What?! Are you okay?!"
"The furthest thing from it. You're lucky I'm still alive."
"God we are. King thought you'd turned against us or some shit."
What.
What did she just say?
But-King was-
"King's…King's still alive?"
"...Yeah? He's very much alive. Have no idea where the hell he is, but he's very much still alive."
She tricked him.
Luna fucking tricked him.
King was alive this entire time, worrying himself sick, and Purple didn't even realize it!
God, how was he so fucking stupid?!
"Purps? Are you there?"
Purple bit back the sob of relief in his throat. "I'm fine."
"I can go find him if that'll make you feel any better."
"Please! God damn it, he's going to kill me-"
"He will not kill you. Worried fucking sick, yes, but he won't be mad at you."
Relieved, probably.
That's what he'll be. Relieved and will never let you go once you get out of there.
"Purple! Purple, sunshine!"
King!
God damn it, he was alive!
"...Dad?"
"Purple! You're okay! Thank goodness, I-"
"I know, the entire world was told I was dead underwater. I was told you were dead and didn't love me anymore!"
"Purple, honey…that's not true. I love you more than I probably should, and that will never change."
Purple smiled. "I love you too, dad."
*CRASH*
Fuck.
"Shit, she's in." Purple muttered.
"Who-What-Purple, where are you?!"
"I don't know, dad! I really don't! But it's somewhere bad and Luna's trying to kill me and I just-" He drew in a breath.
"Baby, please…"
King's terror in his voice made Purple's heart break for him.
"I'm sorry, dad…I love you."
He disconnected the call and spawned in a lighter, having no other choice.
He threw the lighter at her and bolted into the flames.
Luna didn't remember much after that.
She remembered the entire place engulfing in flames, and Purple pushing past her to the ground, before he scrambled to his feet and ran out.
She couldn't even hear herself scream out for him over the crackling of the flames. Coughing through the smoke filling her lungs.
That stupid fucking brat.
When she-
When-
Wh-
That's when her thoughts collided together, and she couldn't remember much until she woke up.
She couldn't feel half of her body, that entire side numb to the excruciating pain she felt everywhere else.
She could look around, the blank white walls giving her an inference. She was in the hospital.
A hospital, at least. She knew enough of the fate of the city to know barely anyone had survived the apocalypse of the city.
So then where was she?
If the entire city had crumbled beneath the wrath of Vita Carnis, then where was this hospital?
"Ah, so you've finally awoken."
Oh.
Well, nevermind.
That's where she was.
"Heather?"
"The one and only!" How was this girl always so cheerful? "How do you feel?"
"Is it possible to say I feel a mixture of unimaginable pain that rivals being burned alive, and numbness in half of my body?"
"Understandable. Half of your body was covered in severe burns from the fire. So, instead of amputating most of your body…although we had to do that anyway, we gave you robotic limbs!"
Luna blinked. "Is that why my entire half feels more numb than someone on drugs?"
"...You could say that, but yes. You won't feel anything in that part of your body. Pain included.
Luna found the strength to lift her prosthetic hand up. It felt just like a regular hand, only more robotic than a regular human would feel.
Her hand, her entire arm, even, felt stiff. Like her movements were forced. They were metal, after all. It wasn't like she could do a whole lot less than she could do before.
"...Will I still be able to avenge my brother and destroy Purple?"
"Of course you will! We did this for a reason, Luna. You are alive because you have a mission. And that mission is to destroy Purple Clementine at all costs. Avenge Silver. Navy. Moon. Midnight. All of them. You are to avenge all that Purple has wronged, and uphold their honor. Do you understand?"
"Clear as the day."
Heather smirked as the group was thrown in, one by one. The two leaders yelled protests, but were ignored.
"Now, now, Victim. You don't want the rest of your little family to suffer, do you?" Lavender's voice sounded from above.
Victim glanced up, and the tall orange stick tried to lunge forward. "Where's Purple."
"Why do you care?"
He snarled. "Where is my son."
"Oh, relax! I'm sure he's just fine!"
"Yeah, being sold around as a sex slave." Blossom quipped.
The father's heart sank. "A WHAT?!"
"She's joking."
"She better be."
Heather turned her attention back to her sisters. "What should we do with them."
Lavender chuckled. "Do not worry, dear sisters. I have a plan for what to do with them."
Heather glanced at her sister. "What does she mean?"
"Not sure, but she will show us soon enough."
The doors opened, and Heather's heart nearly sunk when the nearly entirely robotic creature walked in.
The orange stick backed up behind Victim and the others.
"Well, my dear, are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Excellent. Now, get your nephew and his friends. Do you understand your mission, Luna Star Ribbon?"
"Yes. I do."
"Excellent."