Author note: Okay before you continue reading, I forgot to put the trigger warning in the prologue before I uploaded it (oops) so I have to add it here. Trigger warnings for the following:

Blood, death, self-harm, dismemberment, abusive behavior, starving oneself, and constant injuries/broken bones and vomiting. Also, experimenting on oneself and others (included with the self-harm and abusive behavior warnings.)

Be warned, this is one of my darker stories and is supposed to follow the corruption arc of a villain. Take note that the triggers will show up more and more as the story progresses, and the theme/vibe will get darker as well. (Please be patient/nice with me, as this is my first try at writing a corruption arc.) If you're fine with reading this, continue on ahead. If not, try checking out some of my other stories, that are more light-hearted. (Example: Four the Babysitter [4tB])

Anyways, Stay Fresh, and have a happy new year!

~CaramelPhoenix

Yamagen moaned, rubbing his head. His back hurt and his head throbbed. Voices talked nearby. He rubbed his eyes, forcing them to focus. Two people stood by the Darkwood, talking and taking pictures of it. Yamagen staggered to his feet and limped over to the tree.

"Leave it alone! This is my tree!"

The female looked to him. "You grew this tree? It's so impressive!"

The male smiled. "My name's Reginald. Who are you? I want to know the name of Concordia's hero!"

"C-Concordia? Hero?!" Yamagen stammered. "What are you talking about? I'm not a hero! And what is Concordia?"

"You...must have been gone for a while or something," said the woman. "Concordia is the land this tree created. And you took care of the tree, right? So you're our hero!"

"This tree...Created an entire world...?"

"Not a world," the man said, "but more like a huge island."

"Are there...more people than just you here?"

They both nodded. "I just wanted to take pictures of the tree," said Reginald.

Yamagen felt his eye twitch. "Oho...really?"

The lady nodded. "Yeah! You should introduce yourself! They'll probably be happy to meet the one who untied Concordia!"

His heart shattered, the pain as if he were stabbed through the chest with a knife made of glass. He staggered as they faded to nothing. Blood dripped down from his shoulders as their disembodied voices mocked him with false praise. The flashes of their cameras stung his eyes and rang in his head.

"You okay?"

He was only envisioning such things. He was fine, they were gone, and there was no voice to comfort him. He was perfectly alone. He sighed.

"I asked ya a question, ya dingbat!" A pig blocked his view of the tree.

"Waa!" He fell backwards. "Who the-?!"

"I'm Falor! And what're ya doin' on the floor, lazy bum?"

"Get out of my face!" Yamagen shoved him aside.

"Not one for warm welcomes, are ya?"

"You intrude on my island, with no introduction or regard for my feelings, and expect me to treat you nicely?! I don't even want anybody on my island!"

"Ya could've just said ya were an introvert. I woulda left ya alone. Yeesh. Ya need to learn how to chill a bit, yeah?"

"I said...Get. OUT!"

"Fine! Whatever! It's not like I cared about ya or anything." He flapped away on his small wings, the green cord wrapped around his fat body dangling loosely in midair.

He clenched his fists. "I don't know how long I was out after falling off the Darkwood, but this has gone on long enough. I put an end to this, today."