AN: Hey. Been a while. Sorry. I was working on my Masters' Thesis.
Chapter 15: Approaching Storm
Oscar squinted as the darkness gave way to... an open, sunny blue sky. Calm clouds drifted across the sun, casting calm shadows over peaceful fields of grass that swayed in the wind. Nearby, there was a large, stone mansion with red shingles. Trees dotted the landscape, with shrubbery and toys all around. "Is this... still the Tree..?" Dawn wondered, surprised by the oddly peaceful landscape that Urizen had brought them to.
"It is," Oscar confirmed, his Semblance feeling the same unnerving swirl of Hearts in the veins hidden behind this placid illusion. And... there was something else. A condensed nugget of Darkness at the center of this that caused his stomach to roil and his every muscle to clench.
"Wow... I haven't been here in... a long time..." Dante said. Oscar glanced over in surprise. His voice was... strained. Lacking its usual sarcasm and rude joking, he almost sounded sad. He walked slowly towards the castle, then turned back to Urizen who seemed to be... waiting for them.
V meanwhile, forced himself off of Nero's shoulder to place his hand on the gate, his broken body seeming to shatter as a sudden, impossible weight dropped on his shoulders. "So... even for you... it's still that night..." Oscar wondered what that could mean, but pushed it off to look at Urizen.
"What is this place?" Nero asked, moving towards Dante and drawing Red Queen, eyes narrowed at Urizen.
Dante ignored the question, staring at Urizen instead. The Demon was standing with energy pulsing through him. He dropped what looked like – Oscar's hand came to his mouth to hold back his urge to vomit. That thing... His vision seemed to glitch and he fell to his knees. Ozpin within his Heart even seemed to be in pain from what Oscar's Semblance was making him see. Life, death, swirling in a vortex of Darkness. Condensing. A facsimile of a World, countless Hearts – devouring Light all at once...
"Oscar!" Dawn slid to a stop beside him on her knees, holding him softly. "Oscar, what's wrong?"
"Hearts..." He looked at the decaying apple and watched as Urizen suddenly pulsed with energy, creating a cold wind that washed over everyone present. Oscar couldn't hold it back that time, vomit retching towards the ground as the feeling of countless human Hearts screaming in agony rocked through his mind.
Urizen's armor began to fall off of as another pulse of energy flew through them. "You son of a bitch..." Dante growled. His sword appeared in his hand and he shot forward, swinging it at the Demon. "I'll enjoy beating you again!"
V watched from the gate, Shadow and Griffin melting out of the ground to sit with him. He watched as Dante was caught by a fist and slammed hard into the ground. "We, uh... we gonna help 'im, V?"
"... we have to."
Dante getting hit caused everyone to jump into action, charging Urizen with their weapons drawn. Dawn got there first, flames coating her Keyblade as she deflected the next fist that would have flattened Dante, her entire body shaking from the sudden impact. "Ach!" She was stunned just enough for a foot to come around and kick her and Dante away.
Urizen turned and summoned a rain of energy that fell towards Nero, the deadly beams chasing him like deadly stars. The one armed man scoffed angrily and began to dance between the attacks as best he could, his sword swinging up to deflect one, then another, but there were just too many to avoid. He was going to get hit by most of them.
"FREEZE!" A wall of ice exploded upward in front of Nero, taking the explosions and giving him and his savior – Oscar – time to attack. Oscar continued to use magic to try and buy Nero time, his spells of lightning and ice trying to match the incoming Light, Darkness, and summoned swords that Urizen was using. It was paying off though, because Nero dodged a brutal punch and swung his sword up at Urizen's chin in an effort to carve through his face.
Only for the crystal to smack him away. It began to spin like a saw again, and Urizen rolled into a portal. Half a second later, one opened behind Oscar. He turned just in time to see a fist slam down onto him, creating a crater around him. A foot came down to stomp on him, and it would have killed him if it weren't for Dawn and V arriving, Dawn deflecting the stomp and Griffon appearing to drag Oscar out of the way. Shadow jumped up beside Dawn, slashing low while Dawn jumped up to try and fight Urizen higher.
"He's much stronger since consuming the Fruit..." V remarked simply as Griffon dropped Oscar on his feet beside him. V stumbled and leaned on the younger man for a moment, then stood up. "Griffon – Try to stun him."
"On it, V!" The bird charged his body up with electricity and shot himself like a missile at Urizen, slamming into the Demon's face. The thing snarled in annoyance and turned, smacking the bird away.
"Gotcha, Birdy!" Dante caught the familiar, then dropped him on the ground to immediately jump into the fight again. Oscar saw him running and cast a speed buff on the man, letting him rocket forward. Dante grinned and transformed into his bulky demonic form, his sword trailing hellfire as he slashed at Urizen. The blue demon dodged, but this gave Dawn and Nero enough time to try and attack his chest.
"DAMN YOU!" Darkness pulsed off of the Demon and everyone was sent flying. He charged after the tumbling Dante and grabbed his leg, slamming him into the ground and dragging him through the dirt before turning and throwing him right into V. The two tumbled through the dirt, the transformation ended. Oscar tossed a cure at the two, then sprinted forward with Nero and Dawn. He threw his Keyblade, shattering one of Urizen's summoned floating swords.
The Demon roared in anger and rushed forward, slamming his fist into Oscar's guard as more floating swords appeared and began to chase Dawn and Nero, appearing rapidly to try skewering the two humans. It was all Dawn and Nero could do to deflect and dodge the barrage while avoiding Urizen's other attacks. "Dammit, you're big, ugly, and strong!?" Dawn snapped as she was forced to block one, the attack's force causing her to slide back despite the Reflect hexagon the weapon summoned. "This is stupid, you jerk!
Oscar rushed forward, mentally checking his slowly refilling Magic reserves, and slid to a stop to defend Nero's back from an attack. "Don't taunt the giant monster, Dawn!" His defense gave Nero time to rush closer, his sword slashing at Urizen's legs and trailing flames. The monster didn't seem to care about that, though, simply hopping and swinging his foot around to catapult the young man into the stone fence of the manor.
"Dammit..." V fell to one knee, his body decaying faster. Then his eyes locked on Oscar, chasing after Nero. "Griffin. Shadow. Help Dawn and Nero. And tell Oscar to come here."
The bird settled on V's shoulder. "Oscar..? Wait... V, don't tell me you're plannin...?"
"Do it!" V snapped, more of his flesh sloughing off.
"Got it! Got it!" Griffin shouted, flying off. Shadow appeared beside V, the panther's eyes sad as it nuzzled his side for a moment... then it went off as well.
"You too, Nightmare." V's hair became stark white and his tattoos vanished totally as the lumbering behemoth appeared. It stared down at him, something in its inhuman figure conveying a very human sadness and acceptance. Then it rushed with Shadow towards Urizen, catching his foot in both hands and unleashing a laser beam.
Oscar slid over a moment later. "You're too hurt! Don't move!" he exclaimed, preparing to heal V again.
"No." V grabbed his arm and glared up at Oscar. The crystal began to swirl like a saw, carving at Dante, Nero, Dawn, and V's familiars. It wasn't going well. V stared up into Oscar's eyes. "Your power. It can wake up who someone used to be. Isn't that – ach – isn't that right?"
Oscar froze. "I... yes. But that isn't going to help anyone h-"
"Do it. Do it to me."
"What..?" Oscar stared at V in horror. "No! No, it's... you wouldn't be in control of yourself anymore! You'd basically be dead!"
"'Prepare your hearts for Death's cold hand! Prepare your souls for flight, your bodies for the earth! Prepare your arms for glorious victory; prepare your eyes to meet a holy God!'" V turned his angry eyes on Oscar. "Death comes for us all, Keyblade Master. I choose this moment. I'm not a full person. But who I used to be... He could be reborn here. And he might be enough."
"So you... I knew you felt incomplete. What did you do to yourself?" Oscar asked in horror.
V shut his eyes. "Act. Or we die." Urizen was winning. That much was obvious.
"... You're okay with dying?"
V let out a laugh. "I'm okay with being reborn. He and I are the same. Don't pretend that you can split a person and the two halves are anything other than the person themselves."
"Urizen... he's you, too. Isn't he?" Oscar growled. All of this was V's fault..? He put his hands on V's chest, feeling the Heart's fractured Light within. "You have a lot to answer for..." The name. He could feel it under his fingers. Feel the person that V is. The Heart's shape, like the outline missing pieces of the puzzle within. "Vergil."
Light and Darkness exploded around the two, and Oscar was thrown away.
Urizen froze, Darkness pulsing from his shoulders and a combination of fear and disgust on his face.
The Crystal protecting Urizen shattered, and something flew out of it.
Nero's eyes widened in recognition and anger.
Dante frowned like a guess had been confirmed.
"You have something that belongs to me," an annoyed voice said, catching whatever had come out of the crystal, a Katana with a black sheathe and white handle. A man in a blue coat, his eyes cold and his body still decaying slightly, walked forward as if the pain wasn't affecting him at all. "In fact... you belong to me."
"Foolishness!" Urizen snapped, ignoring the others as he charged the newcomer. His eyes blazed with hate, and the one at the center of his chest shuddered with pure Shadow that launched ever more ethereal blades at the newcomer.
The man simply dodged the first three, then cleanly – so fast it was difficult even for Oscar to see – brought his sword out and cut the final one in half. He slowly returned his sword to its scabbard and stood up straight as if this was simply practice for him. "Hmph." The man brushed his white hair back. He looked like he was Dante's... brother. And more, like... Oscar glanced at Nero, who was glaring at Vergil with hate and clutching his stump of a right arm. Oh... Vergil held the Katana at his side and slid his feet apart. "I'll admit, I thought that once, too. But if this is the best you can manage without me, this experiment has gone on long enough."
Energy began to swirl around Vergil, hastening the decay. But he didn't seem to mind. "I'll need to fight smart. And... dammit... Dante!"
"Heh... Well, can't say no to that cry for help." Dante attacked Urizen from the back, sword crashing into the monster's claws as Dante turned into his monstrous form. "What kind of brother would I be if I didn't help!?"
Dawn, Oscar, and Nero wanted to help, but... Griffin, Shadow, and Nightmare got in the way. "No. It's family business, got it?" Griffin said simply.
The trio hesitated because of that and let the fight continue. But Nero still glared at the man, whose long blue coat moved swiftly, trailing behind him as he dodged attacks without letting any of his pain show in the effort. "He... he did all this..? And Dante's his brother!?"
The man in the long blue coat – Vergil – was like Dante's complete opposite. Where Dante fought with wild, impromptu movements that indicated he was self taught much like Dawn's father was, Vergil fought surgically as if he had been trained by the greatest teachers of his world, his Katana moving in efficient and highly disciplined motions that almost seemed to cut the space it traveled through.
Dante's voice came from his monstrous form as he flew around to attack Urizen with his huge flaming broadsword. "Haven't fought like this since -"
"The tower. Yes, Dante, I remember!" Vergil snapped as he barely dodged an incoming rain of laser like stars. He summoned his own ethereal blades of blue to meet Urizen's glowing projectile swords now. "Now for once in your life, focus!"
"Aw, come on, a guy can't enjoy some brotherly love?!" Dante's fist ignited with flames and crashed into Urizen's jaw, sending the distracted monster flying.
"Love? Ha! Foolishness, Dante. Foolishness." Despite that, Vergil had a small smile on his face as he shot towards the demon with his Katana glowing. The blade came around over and over, barely deflected by the demon at every turn. "If I were at full strength, I wouldn't bother letting you near my fights."
"You're the one intruding here, Bro!" Dante appeared beside Vergil, the two of them both in human form again. Despite their wildly differing fighting styles, they moved in perfect sync. Dawn's eyes widened as she watched the two constantly attacking where the other moved back. Over and over and over. Like two halves of a whole meant to work side by side...
"I'm never gonna let you live this down, dumbass!"
"Oh, you'll be next after I'm done with this one, Dante!"
"That's... Vergil..." Nero muttered, his grip on his stump tightening. "V was... Vergil!?"
Vergil and Dante together slowly overwhelmed the demon. Burns and cuts began to accumulate on its body. "No! You're... just humans!"
"..." Vergil stepped back, glowing energy swirling around him on the ground. "No. I'm not. I am the Son of Sparda. I. Am. Power. And you're in my way."
He shot forward as Dante slammed his blade upward, breaking Urizen's guard. The Katana landed deep in the Demon's chest. "N...No..."
"I suppose we have our answer, don't we?" Vergil asked Urizen as energy began to swirl around them both.
"Vergil... Vergil, don't -" Dante said, landing beside his brother. "Come on. You -"
"Power. I need..."
Nero's eyes widened. This... what he was saying... He looked down at the stump of his arm, memories flashing before his eyes. "I need... more Power..."
"Unfortunately, Brother, our souls are still at odds. I need more Power." The energy pulsed dangerously. "And... I can't let my last defeat stand. We're tied... and I don't intend to lose. No matter the cost."
There was an explosion and Oscar could feel it. A jigsaw puzzle becoming complete. An atom coming together. Light and Dark swirling into a single vessel. Death, like a cold veil. They'd traded one monster for another...
"DAMMIT!" Dante rushed forward to attack.
The Katana, still in its sheath, came around to effortlessly deflect the attack. Vergil turned and slammed the tip of the sheath into Dante's gut, sending him flying as the sky itself began to shatter and fall all around them, this memory of a life long past came to an end. Those raining shards of memory began to fade like the past, leaving only the death filled existence of the Tree. "Enough, Dante. You've been fighting for days. I... am complete once more." The smoke cleared completely, and now Oscar knew. He could see it clearly. That face, without its damaged flesh. Reborn complete, healthy. It was the same as... Vergil began to turn away."Get strong. Lick your wounds. We'll settle this at the top -"
"YOU!" Vergil stopped and turned, eyebrows raised as Nero sprinted towards him, sword blazing with flames. "I still owe you for stealing my arm, Bastard!"
Vergil narrowed his eyes. "You've come as far as you're going to get, Nero." His words, while cruel, didn't have any angry edge or heat to them. They were almost impressed, actually. He deflected the attack and grabbed the younger man by the throat before slamming him into the dirt. Ethereal swords appeared above them and shot down, skewering Nero's clothes to pin him to the ground. "You helped me too much for me to kill you. So stay down and be quiet."
"You took my arm, you bastard! You attacked the city -!"
"I did." Vergil said simply, silencing Nero for a moment.
Vergil stood up, ignoring Nero's cursing and struggling. He turned his gaze now to Dawn and Oscar, who were nursing Dante's wounds. "Griffin... Shadow... Nightmare... you're gone. I see..." He shut his eyes, then opened them with a grim fire glowing within. He raised his voice, "Keyblade Wielders. There's no point in you interfering in our world or our lives anymore. Go away." He turned away again, carving a portal into the air. "After all, Salem already took Nico." He walked through the portal.
"Nico..? Hey! Tell me what happened to Nico, you bastard!" Nero screamed. Energy pulsed and he shattered the weapons holding him down, jumping to his feet with barely a moment and charging after Vergil. "WHERE-?!"
"Even human... you're far from Dead Weight." The portal slammed shut before Nero could get to it. "Thank you, Nero."
"I -" Nero slid to a stop and let out a scream of rage and hate. "He ran away!? After all this, he ran away!? I... I'm gonna kill him!"
"No." Everyone turned to Dante, who was brushing off his shoulders. He grabbed a speck of something from his lapel, examined it, then flicked it away."Go on home, Nero. This doesn't concern you. And you two get out of here, too. Find Nico and bring her back, that's your job, right?"
He isn't wrong. Salem is the focus, Ozpin said in Oscar's mind as Oscar and Dawn traded a look.
"Yeah, but... We don't want to abandon you guys!" Dawn exclaimed desperately. "Just because V was – is... someone other than he said he is... it isn't a good reason for us to go!"
"And I'm not leaving! I lost my right arm because of him!"
"This isn't your fight. Any of you!" Dante snapped, turning to walk away. "I need to stop him, and that's all that matters."
Nero growled and stomped forward, forcing Dante to turn around. "I'm not gonna let you have all the fun, Dante!"
"Guys, this isn't the time to argue -" Dawn began, only for Oscar – no, Ozpin, she sees in his eyes – to grab her shoulder and shake his head.
"You don't get it," Dante brushed him off.
"Lemme guess, I'm dead weight!? You can shove that up your -"
"That's not it, Nero!."
Nero shoved Dante, screaming, "What is it, then!?"
"He's your father!"
The room fell silent. Dawn stared, eyes wide... then turned and buried her face in Oscar's shoulder. It was enough to cause him to override Ozpin and his arms snapped around her comfortingly. Why...?
Nero shook his head slowly, his world raining around him like the memories of the mansion had around all of them just moments earlier. "I... no... w-what?!" He was shaking, his Heart itself rocked by the pain and horror. The question of if V – Vergil – knew. If he knew when he tore off Nero's arm. And... if his father was the kind of man who would destroy the city like this, a Demon... was he..?
"I had the feeling the first time I saw you, but I just... wasn't sure." Dante remarked, beginning to pace, the truth spilling from him. "And then I saw how the Yamato reacted... and I was certain. You could use my brother's sword. Our father's sword... So there's only one answer: Vergil is your father."
Nero was paralyzed as Dante turned and began to leave again. "He needs an ass-kicking... but I can't let you kill your old man." Dante transformed, his wings flaring wide.
Nero looked around, at his hands, shaking... He kept mumbling the same question, confusion and pain etched across his face. "My... father..?"
He stood there for a long time after Dante left. Shaking. Cold. Unsure... He flinched when he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist and a hand resting on his shoulder. "What -?"
"I'm sorry." Dawn said from behind him, her hug tightening.
Nero looked at Oscar beside him, but the young man's eyes were different. Ozpin. "You can't kill someone that close to you. It would destroy you."
"But Dante can..?" Nero asked hollowly, his knees threatening to give out as his entire world continued to crumble. He thought he knew who he was... but this..?
"If I'm reading them right, they've fought for a long time. And someone has to stop him, he's right," Ozpin said, his jaw set. "He is protecting you from being the one to do it."
"But I think you should follow them."
Nero and Ozpin both turned to Dawn, surprised. "Look... Even if it ends bad... shouldn't you see it to its end? Say goodbye?" She looks away, a shadow crossing her face before she pulls her hood up. "I'd give anything to say goodbye to my mom. Are you really going to stay behind while your uncle kills your dad?"
"Ms. Nomura, I don't -"
"She's right." Nero's fragile voice seemed to be piecing itself back together.
Ozpin looked at him. "Watching the people you love die, I have done that. It isn't -"
"Would you change it, though? You or Oscar? Would you make them die alone?" Nero asked, and Ozpin fell silent. Ozpin was so stunned by the question that he retreated from control. Oscar... no. He knew. His aunt's death... even if it was the worst moment of his life, he wouldn't go back and change it. She shouldn't die alone. And Ozpin... he wished, even still, he could have been there on the day that his Apprentices all died.
Nero nodded as he saw the visible shift in Oscar's body language. "And..."
"And..?" Oscar asked, stunned by Nero's change in attitude just from one sentence by Dawn. No... not stunned. He looked over at Dawn, who had a determined but sad look on her face. Just like Master Sora...
Nero shook his head. "No. I think... It's my problem to deal with. I'll let you know when you bring Nico back." He rubbed the tears from his eyes with his sleeve then grinned at the two Keyblade Wielders. "Thanks. I needed that, guys."
Dawn hesitated and patted his shoulder. "... You... you sure?"
Nero shrugged. "No. But if I stop moving, I won't ever start moving again." He laughed a bit and looked down at his prosthetic hand. "I... don't know if I can forgive him. But I have unfinished business. So screw him, and screw Dante. I'm going to see this through to the end."
"If I can't stop you..." Oscar said. He shook his head. "Good luck."
"Yeah. Give 'em hell. And who knows... maybe we'll even be there."
Oscar looked at Dawn, confused. Why..? Well... maybe they would be. He nodded at Nero. "Ok. See you soon."
R W B Y
Dawn stared out of the cockpit, eyes dull. "So... Nico..." she muttered. Her jaw clenched.
Oscar wasn't sure what to say... so he turned it over to Ozpin for a moment. "It is a tactical loss. But... Your father. He told you stories of his life, his adventures, yes?"
Dawn stiffened at the sound of Ozpin's vocal cadence, but turned her hollow eyes to him regardless. Her hand fidgeted with the necklace around her neck. "Things always looked the worst before they got better. I have no doubt things will turn around soon."
"Oh yeah, and how'd that turn out for you, huh!?" she snapped at Ozpin, her teeth bared slightly with disgust. "You lost everything! Everyone! There's no guarantee that this'll turn out better at all, okay!?"
"I -"
Oscar understood his mistake now. He took control back from Ozpin, trading spots. His hand slowly came up and he laced his fingers with Dawn's. "I... I'm sorry. But... you can't lose hope, Dawn. You – you've always been so strong. Keeping me going. Keeping me strong. I... I'll be here for you, too." His cheeks began to heat up. "I – I, uh... th-that is..."
He looked up to see Dawn's usually pale face was just as beet red as his. "I... Oscar..."
"I mean..." He slowly let go of her hand. "I mean... we will find Nico. We'll find your mom. We'll find Dove. And I'll save you." His eyes widened and he turned away, stammering. "We will! I mean we will save you!"
Dawn's eyes widened. "Os...car..." She smiled softly and looked at the controls, a wistful but happy look on her face. "Thank you..."
Well... Sora's going to kill you, Ozpin bemusedly said, much to Oscar's confusion and worry.
Oscar shook it off. "Anyways... Dawn. This whole thing with V and Vergil – it isn't the same as it is with you. She isn't part of you."
"... I was more worried it was like you and Ozpin," Dawn remarked after a moment. "Oscar... promise me -" She shut her eyes as her voice cracked. She wanted to cry... "Promise me you'll never let him become you. Never. Oscar you... You need to be Oscar. Back there, you were letting him take over for nothing! For talking -"
"He knows things! He has experience -"
"BUT HE'S NOT YOU!" Dawn snapped, cutting him off. She turned back to the controls. "I don't care how smart you think he is. He... He screwed up a million times. He never succeeded. And he isn't you."
Oscar's heart skipped a beat. His mind swirled in confusion. She thought that highly of him..? Of... of nerdy, nervous, scared Oscar Pine..? Sora really is going to kill you.
"Huh?" Oscar couldn't help but ask Ozpin aloud.
R W B Y
"Still no Salem..." Dove muttered as she placed Nico into her pod. The interior lit up and began to use the impossible power of her own Light to activate a stasis field, keeping her suspended and asleep. Dove checked the power on the other pods, making sure everything was okay. She stopped last in front of Ruby's and her hand hovered for a moment above the release button.
Then she pulled her hand away like she'd burned it. "I'm sorry..." Dove leaned her head against the tube's glass and shut her eyes. "I wish I could let you go, Aunt Ruby. And once I find out a way to fight Salem without hurting Dawn, I will..."
"Bold of you to assume that you could hurt one without hurting the other."
Dove spun on her heel, Keyblade burning into existence as she charged the voice.
"Hey now, Snowbird, I'm not here to fight." The man in the red mantle stood there, hands up disarmingly. He didn't flinch at all as the Keyblade shivered just in front of his face. He just smirked. It was infuriating, how he acted. "So, the Snowbird has the nest to herself for now?" He pushed the tip of the weapon away with his finger and began to walk around the lair, appraising things.
Dove watched him examine the various items and weapons collected. He stopped in front of the remains of the original Crescent Rose Scythe that Salem had collected and he suddenly created a perfect replica of the weapon, spinning it expertly before letting it fade away into blue sparks. Dove took a step forward. "What are you doing here? Do you have a plan to discuss for capturing the Princess on your world?" she asked angrily.
The man in red sat down on the edge of the table. "Does everything have to be business with you? Besides, weren't you just theorizing on how to beat your boss so your little cousin can run around all free and clear?" he remarked mockingly. "As if that's even possible."
"I... what does that mean?" Dove shivers. She'd never liked this guy, from the moment he showed up in their path. He wasn't recruited, like all the others in Salem's circle had been. No... he'd found them instead. "What do you know?"
"Nothing much," he replied with a chuckle and a shrug. He summoned a black falchion to his hand and began to toss it upward, spinning, and then catch its handle. "Just what I've seen myself."
Infuriating! She was going to get answers from him! "You knew where to find us. How?"
"I'd been here before." He stabbed the sword into the table then summoned a white falchion and began to toss it like he had the other. "Back to you, though, Snowbird. Why do you think you'll be able to fight Salem one day?"
"I'm stronger than -"
He cut her off by stabbing the white blade into the table with a loud clang of metal on stone, its silhouette crossing the black one in an 'X.' "Not what I meant." He pushed off the table and walked up to her. "You really are blind, aren't you? I guess I'm not one to talk..." He looked down at her, then turned his gaze to one of the empty pods, his brow furrowing and memories playing out in his eyes again. "If you can't fight Salem, if you never get an opportunity... will you help her until the bitter end?"
"... I... I can't hurt Dawn..." she admitted, defeated.
"I know." He took a step back. "It's so interesting, watching from this..." He shook his head. The man rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Well. That's that. I have some final business on my world. You won't see me again." He looked at her again, his silvery eyes hardening. "Hey. I have a weird request, Snowbird. Smile."
She blinked in surprise. "What!?" she asked in sheer surprise.
"I'm into sunshine blondes, calm down, Snowbird. I'm just trying to figure something out. Just think about a good memory with that cousin of yours. Or that boy following her around. You seem to value the two of them."
Dove snarled instead.
The man sighed. "Fine. Whatever. Careful with the grumpy looks, Snowbird. Your face'll get stuck like that." The man vanished in a shimmer of blue. "Forever."