Chapter Text
Ash was sitting in the corner of the white room, hugging his legs against his chest and watching the others play. Jaiden was sitting on the floor, laughing at the younger ones. Quackity, Roier and Doied ran and laughed, growling and pretending to be ferocious animals as they played at attacking each other.
Sometimes he felt jealous of how they could play all day long. Jaiden could stay in the room all day, so she drew whenever she wanted and had time to read as many books as she liked. Quackity, Roier and Doied sometimes had to leave too, but when they came back they could play as much as they wanted, just like they were doing right now. They played together a lot, they were friends.
Ash couldn't have friends.
– Ash, come play! We're pretending to be dinosaurs, just like that book Jaiden read to us! – Quackity came up to the little boy, smiling from ear to ear with his sharp teeth, and held out his hand.
He thought about getting up, thought about taking the duck boy hand and going to play with everyone. Ash really wanted to, he wanted to let himself relax and just play with them all. But just as he was about to do it, the door opened and a familiar figure appeared.
Ash got up quickly, slapping away Quackity outstretched hand. Quackity took a small step back.
– Playing is for the weak. I'm a soldier, and I'm going to be the best of all.
Ash then walked toward the door without looking back. The worker closed it behind him as soon as he passed through. The room stayed quiet for a moment, before Quackity broke the silence.
– That's not fair, I wanted to train with swords too! He is so lucky... – Quackity complained to Jaiden with a pout, kicking the floor in frustration.
– Don't say that, Quackity. Don't you see how hurt he always comes back? – Jaiden said, her voice gentle but firm.
– But I come back all hurt too, and I don't even fight with swords. – He shot back, innocent.
—
Ash had fallen to the floor after a hard hit from the worker who trained him. His whole body ached, his lungs were burning and his arms and legs felt weak after so many hours of training. Instead of getting up right away like he had been doing for the past few hours, Ash took those few seconds on the ground, they were the only ones where he could rest a little.
"Get up."
Ash immediately got to his feet, looking around for where the familiar voice had come from. Cucurucho was standing near the arena, arms crossed behind his back, looking down at him. That sight always made Ash want to run, just run and never look back.
– S-sorry, I'm tired, I slipped and—
"We've already talked about this. Don't you want to become the best soldier? You can't have weaknesses."
Ash just lowered his head and listened without arguing.
Cucurucho watched him for a few seconds, then signaled for the other worker to leave and let them alone. When the worker left and the arena door shut with a sharp click, Cucurucho took one of the swords from the wall and began to walk around the boy.
"You know, I have ears everywhere. I thought we had already talked about how important it is to focus on your training."
Cucurucho spun the sword in one hand — so smoothly it was frightening — as he walked around Ash. He stopped in front of the little boy, who kept his eyes on the ground.
"Friendships are a waste of time. There is no time for playing, there is no time for feelings. All of that makes you weak. You were made to be perfect."
He pointed the sword at Ash, who didn't move.
"I say this for your own good. Don't disappoint me."
– Yes, sir.
—
Quackity had his back to the door, drawing on the floor, when it opened. It wasn't the time the workers usually came to bring food, and it wasn't the time they usually came to pick up Roier and Doied either, so Quackity was curious. He turned around excitedly, a wide pointy smile on his face and his little wings opening slightly, thinking it might be his brother coming back.
The boy eyes went wide on their own and his heart started racing. That man was at the door, and right behind him were two workers Quackity knew far too well. Two workers whose presence could only mean one thing.
The other children got up and stood in line, side by side, arms at their sides and heads down.
But Quackity body refused. He got up in a panic and took a few steps back.
– No... No, no! Leave me alone, please!
Cucurucho was already signaling the two workers to come in and grab the duck boy. Quackity tried to run, but he was no match for two adults, who quickly caught up to him and grabbed his arms without caring if they were hurting him.
– No! Please, no! I don't want a shot! It hurts too much! Please!
Quackity screams filled the room as he was dragged out. He tried to pull free, to fight back, to scratch and bite the workers, but in the end he was just a small child who couldn't do much against adults.
– Don't hurt my wings! Please!
That sight squeezed Jaiden's heart. She wanted to hug the poor little boy and tell him everything would be okay. But she couldn't go against the federation, she couldn't risk them doing something to her and leaving those children with no one to look after them. So all she could do was be there to take care of the hybrid injuries when he came back.
Roier and Doied were just children too, children who were scared as well. Sometimes Roier wanted to help, wanted to speak up for his best friend, but his brother held him back, afraid of what they might do to him.
And as Quackity was dragged away by the workers, the other children just huddled together in fear. There was nothing any of them could do.
They were just children, after all.