Disclaimer: Kirby belongs to Nintendo and HAL Laboratory.
Bewildered, the young lady scanned her surroundings. How much time has passed since she was assimilated? How did Fecto Elfilis escape the lab? While she acknowledged Elfilis's presence, Hyness, the Mage Sisters, Kirby and Elfilin focused their gaze on her.
"I did it," Elfilis murmured, their voice slowly edging back into panic, "I got us out. We aren't going back. I healed you and I don't need to be in the capsule anymore and it's better now and they won't test on me anymore!"
Snapping out of her thoughts, Vesa's eyes widened and gasped as she noticed Elfilis breaking down into tears again.
"Hey," Vesa stammered, "are you ok? Elfilis? Say something!"
Vesa gently placed her hand on Elfilis's head. It didn't seem to console them.
"T-They need a minute," Flamberge said.
Vesa blinked before turning her gaze towards the Mage Sisters. She then made a brief glance at Hyness who kept his hood up even if his face was much more well lit.
"W-Wait," Vesa paused, "you're their relatives, aren't you?"
"Yes," Zan answered, "I assume they shared their memories with you?"
Vesa nodded as she ran her hand through Elfilis's fur. Zan Partizanne bowed and crossed her arms downwards.
"Bonjam, miss," she greeted, "I am Zan Partizanne, the eldest of my sisters."
Vesa smiled softly and blinked.
"Vesa Krasniqi," Vesa replied, "from Kryejak, Ioskaria."
Kirby and Elfilin shifted their gaze towards Vesa, giving her a puzzled look.
"Poyo?" Kirby warbled.
"Oh yes, that," Zan blurted, "you've been asleep for a long time. Elfilis was sealed away after the…Fransisca, could you take them elsewhere? I don't want to set them off more."
"Ja," Fransisca nodded.
"Good."
Fransisca nudged at Elfilis, gesturing them to head out of the house.
"Elfilis was sealed away after the scientists decided to perform more experiments on them," Zan continued, "actually separating them into two pieces, Elfilin and Elfilis. Before they were sealed away, however, the scientists managed to crack travel via portals, and sometime between now and then, the entire planet's population of humans just…left."
Vesa shuddered as she took a silent moment to process the new information.
"So that means," Vesa gasped softly, "all my friends…and my family…are long dead."
Vesa's eyes locked onto Elfilin. The small chinchilla floated over to her and perched on her belly.
"Vesa?" Elfilin swayed his tail, "that's a nice name."
"You're Elfilin?" Vesa asked.
"Yeah," Elfilin nodded.
Kirby stepped towards his own bed.
"Hi!" Kirby waved his arm, catching Vesa's attention.
"And this is my friend Kirby," Elfilin gestured to the pink star warrior.
"Kirby," Vesa repeated to herself.
Blinking twice, Vesa ran her finger along Elfilin's head. The small chinchilla giggled as he blushed, his tail swaying happily. She turned her head and her eyes locked onto Flamberge and Hyness.
"I'm…terribly sorry I couldn't introduce you to my own family," Vesa said softly.
"Not to worry. It's entirely possible we might not be here either if it wasn't for extreme coincidence, not just the fact that we were sealed away, but that we also managed to show up here right before Elfilis was…I would prefer not to think about that outcome," Zan replied, "when Elfilis was split, they were split emotionally as well, with all of their positive emotions going into Elfilin."
Zan picked up the small chinchilla and rubbed his cheek for emphasis, making him wiggle cutely.
"All of their negative emotions remained in their main body," Zan continued, "leaving them to sit there and stew on them for centuries in isolation, even if their active mind was asleep, their subconscious was still active. They were left a hollow version of themself and their only goal was to reclaim Elfilin."
"And then what happened?" Vesa asked.
Zan took a moment to clear her throat.
"Kirby alongside Elfilin went to stop Elfilis from doing some bad things," Zan added, "and eventually, Elfilis recaptured Elflilin and they reformed into their completed self. Kirby, who had befriended Elfilin, then attacked with the intent to retrieve his friend and kill Elfilis, and he nearly succeeded. Elfilis, however, escaped and with no positive emotions again, became extremely angry to the point they nearly ended the planet. Then we showed up and set everything straight. That is pretty much how things went before we found out Elfilin took you with him by accident."
Vesa let in a sharp inhale.
"I shouldn't be surprised they were hurting so much all this time," Vesa commented, "but this?"
"They were awake for 2 years after you had to leave," Zan said, "apparently, the elevator also had an announcer that's still functional and has been for centuries. It lists out a lot of propaganda and then at the end when the doors would open, it would say the words 'And here we are! Let's meet the ultimate life-form: Specimen ID-F86.' So now, certain words can trigger them just saying that over and over again, sending them into a fit. They had to listen to that on repeat for likely decades, and then on and off for centuries. So, they're severely broken mentally by everything they had to deal with. Honestly, we are just lucky they don't want to die anymore, although I still plan to watch them closely."
Vesa slowly slid off the bed and carefully approached Hyness.
"It's an honor to meet you, sir," Vesa nodded at him.
"Oh!" Hyness quipped, "it is nice to meet you as well. Let me go get Elfilis, hopefully they have calmed down."
"Uh," Vesa stammered, "I was going to go to them myself, actually."
Hyness blinked as he placed his concealed hand behind his head.
"Well then, I suppose you can come along," Hyness nodded.
Vesa gave Kirby and Elfilin a soft smile before she began following Hyness towards the door. Taking one step along the way, however, sent a chill down her spine as she stumbled. Hyness thought fast and caught her before she could collapse onto the floor. He gently helped her back to her feet.
"Ah," Vesa stammered, "t-thank you, sir."
"No worries," Hyness told her, "take your time and move slowly if you need to. You've been out for a while."
Vesa slowly took her steps as they continued to the door and made their way outside. Ahead, she could see the sunset. They found Elfilis and Fransisca near the pond, the ice mage gently petting her sibling by the side. Clasping her hands and bringing them to her chest, Vesa slowly approached the ultimate life-form. Elfilis made a brief glance at her, but then looked away a second later, far too ashamed to even face her.
Having fully remembered their time with Vesa, Fecto Elfilis felt they hadn't done enough to help her. They may have saved her and healed her, sure, but they also brought her into a world where everything she knew was already gone. They may have escaped and she might be alive, but they failed at everything else, including reuniting her with her family like they promised.
"Uh, Elfilis?" Vesa spoke softly, "can we talk about this…about what happened?"
Elfilis lowered their head in shame.
"I-It's all right," Vesa held out her hand, "I'm not angry."
Fecto Elfilis hesitated for a moment before they nodded.
"I-I can try."
Vesa sat down next to them.
"Your relatives told me what happened," Vesa began, perching her hands on her lap, "I'm actually more upset at the staff at the lab for continuing to keep you prisoner and treating you worse than a mouse even after you saved my life."
Their fur bristled at the thought of the lab.
"I would've thought it'd be obvious," Elfilis agreed, "they would've just killed me if they didn't think they could make money off of me. The tests slowed down a little a-after I helped you. They didn't stop, they just happened less. After they ran out of test subjects, they just started letting people show up to gawk at me and charged entrance fees, spewing propaganda that no one could disprove, about how I was an alien invader trying to destroy the planet, but that they captured me and do tests for the betterment of your species."
Elfilis twitched at the horrifying phrase echoing in their head. Fransisca pet their head more, allowing them to lean into the touch.
"Oh, right," Vesa blurted, "I remember that time one of the scientists told me they actually wanted to use your genes as a step to evolve my species. They seemed intent to do the same on me. But then that sepsis episode happened before they even had that arranged treatment ready."
"Again, I could've done that on my own," Elfilis mumbled.
Vesa took a moment to feel her forehead, her chest and her belly with her hands.
"Well," Vesa assured Elfilis, "I guess my body's just not used to being healthy yet."
"I'm glad you feel better," Elfilis replied, "but, I don't think I will be for a while."
Fransisca continued to stroke her sibling's fur as they both cuddled. Seeing Elfilis finally reunited with their family was enough for Vesa to realize tears were actually welling up in her eyes. She should be grateful she was given a second chance, yet fate still saw them as toys. Remembering she was now in the distant future, part of her wanted to see what became of her world just now. She sniffled and lowered her head.
"I-I," Vesa choked, "I guess I do miss my family after all. I know…I can't go back in time…or even bring them back, but still…"
"I-I am lucky to still have my family," Elfilis sputtered, "i-if they weren't around, I-I don't know what I would have done. I am just happy that they are here."
Vesa leaned in and embraced herself to Elfilis. They whined softly as they leaned into her a little. Vesa nuzzled their cheek as she ran her fingers through their chest fur. Elfilis let out a soft little purr. They placed their arm around her, holding her close. Still, they felt afraid this might be just a dream and they might wake up in the tank again. It was too perfect, despite the flaws. Minutes continued on before Vesa released Elfilis from her embrace and gazed into their eyes.
"Well," Vesa admitted, "if this is supposed to be the future, then I'm not sure if I'd be able to adapt on my own. I don't know how drastically my world has changed. Is it ok if I…stay by your side?"
"Of course," Elfilis nodded, "thank you, Vesa."
Hope seemed to glimmer in Elfilis's eyes, given they had done so much for Vesa. They didn't need to say much else to prove they had still been each other's only friend.
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