Chapter Text
Fundy had always enjoyed the night time.
The lands of the Greater SMP were always quiet at this time. Nobody was around to scowl at him or interrupt him as he prowled. Usually, Fundy would use this time to plan out pranks, or gather supplies. Now, though, he was just walking the prime path. The worn wooden path was as familiar to him as anything; he could walk it with his eyes shut.
The sky rumbled ominously, and Fundy looked up to see nothing but clouds. Strange. The night had been clear when he ventured outside, which he was positive of, since he never ventured out when he thought it was going to rain. The first few drops were beginning to fall, and he loathed the idea of being caught in the rain and having to dry his thick fur.
He hesitated in front of the Prime Church. It had never really been a place for him. After all of the shit he'd been through, he found little comfort in religion. Now, though, the little temple looked cozier than any of the surrounding buildings, which were all beginning to look rather run-down due to lack of upkeep. Plus, it was the closest.
He darted inside just before the sky truly opened up, the rain so abruptly loud that it nearly drowned out the echo of his footsteps as he stepped onto the quartz floor. It seemed as though he'd made the right choice in building, though he wasn't sure how he felt about spending the night in the church. He felt uncomfortable with the thought of sleeping in such a high-traffic area.
The inside was warmer than he expected, though there was no visible heat source. It was as if he had been wrapped in a blanket the moment he'd stepped into the building. He walked to the fountain that gushed an endless source of holy water. Deciding he was quite thirsty after his long walk, he dipped his paws in, cupping water in his hands that he pulled to his muzzle for a drink. It was the sweetest water that he had ever tasted, and he drank his fill.
"I take it that you like the water?" A strange voice asked him. It sounded like someone speaking from a vast distance. It sounded like a thousand voices speaking at once. It sounded like a bitter enemy. It sounded like someone that Fundy had loved dearly, once.
Fundy turned around slowly, and instantly his mind screamed at him to shut his eyes. It was like looking into the sun.
The thing floated above the ground, as though gravity had no meaning to it. It shined brightly in colors that Fundy could barely recognize or process. Fundy couldn't help but gawk at the thing as it leaned in closer. His head ached as he tried to process what it was that he was looking at.
Then, all of a sudden, the shapes of it made sense. The colors faded, no longer so bright that they burned. Hovering in front of him was a person, indescribably disjointed, but a person nevertheless.
"I didn't mean to frighten you," the person(?) said, drifting even closer. It felt incredibly warm, even from a distance. It was as though Fundy was standing next to an open flame, and it scorched his fur. "Hello, Fundy."
Its voice was dizzying but beautiful. It rang through the building like the pure chime of a bell, so loud it drowned out the thunder from outside, but so quiet that Fundy had to strain his ears just to make out any of its words.
"What are you?" Fundy asked, wanting to flee but feeling rooted to the spot. The thing tilted what Fundy vaguely recognized as a head and drifted to the ground, sitting down in a rough approximation of natural human form.
"I am DreamXD." Oh . "Welcome to my temple, little fox."
Fundy had never been one for worship, but when confronted with God what is one supposed to do but pray? What was one to do but bow his head in reverence? Any sane man would do so.
Fundy was not a sane man.
"Are you the reason it started to rain?" Fundy asked, instead of the million other questions that pressed at his tongue. DreamXD seemed just as taken aback as he did by the strange inquisition. Fundy realized that he couldn't identify where exactly the lights that emanated from it were coming from; its very skin was the source.
"Yes," it eventually said, and seemed to coil around itself like some great snake despite never moving. "I wanted to see you in my home. I'm sure you understand, little fox. I've wanted to meet you for a while, but it never seemed to be the right time or place."
Fundy took a seat where he was, in front of the fountain. He was no idiot; he knew that there was no running from the god even if he wanted to. He didn't want to, though. Curiosity burned at him. He was still a fox, after all. The desire to learn was in his blood.
"You wanted to see... Me?" He asked, incredulous.
"The world has been unkind to you. I was hoping that I could, perhaps, balance the scales." It reached out with a claw that ended in wicked talons (or was it a cloven hoof? Or was it the smooth, harmless harmless hand of a child? Or was it the paw of some nameless animal that hadn't been discovered and perhaps never would?), offering a gift.
Balanced in its palm was a netherite sword that crackled with unnatural strength. Fundy could tell just by appearance that it had been enchanted far beyond the capability of any mortal, and in fact perhaps beyond the ability of any immortal, as well, other than a god.
Fundy took the sword in his hand. The sword was so powerful that it would likely be able to kill someone in full netherite in a single hit. It fit his paw perfectly, as if made for him. It was, he realized. The god had made him a sword. Fundy dropped it to his feet as if the metal had burned him.
"This isn't fair," Fundy said, watching as the sword vanished before it could clatter to the ground. Part of him mourned the loss of a weapon that would perhaps finally make people treat him seriously, but the rest of him cringed at the idea of being that powerful. It wasn't in his nature to want to strike fear in the hearts of others. He simply wanted to be loved, and no threats would ever make that happen.
DreamXD hummed, and it felt as if the entire world hummed with it.
"You reject the ability for total control? How fascinating. I thought that was all you mortals desired."
"Only the wicked want to rule others with an iron fist," Fundy said, and he felt a strange sense of vertigo as the god pressed a little closer to him, hanging on to his every word as he spoke. "I've only ever desired to be treated with kindness and love. No amount of power would achieve that."
"Is it not love to be worshiped?" DreamXD asked, and reached out to him.
Abruptly, before it ever made contact with him, Fundy was standing on a podium, with all of his friends, family, and enemies gathered below him. The familiar faces were mixed in with hoards of faceless strangers. They were all looking at him with reverence. His clothes, he realized, were made of the finest silks. He was dressed like an emperor. Strapped to his side was the unnatural blade, gleaming brightly even in the harsh light of the sun. The grass was so green that it hurt his eyes.
"Is this not the future that you desire? This want for power is innate in all mortals," DreamXD said softly in his ear. When Fundy turned his head, he saw there was nothing there. He took a few steps back, disoriented as he faced the crowd.
"No," Fundy said firmly, shaking his head. "I've never wanted power, I told you." The scene melted before his eyes, as if it were made of wet paint and had water dumped onto the canvas. He was back in the church, still sitting down in front of the god.
"Fascinating," it said. "I knew there was some reason I was drawn to you. I could give you all that you desire, little fox. I could make you a god..." It trailed off. Fundy opened his mouth to deny its offer, but it spoke over him.
"But you don't want that, do you? How strange. I've never met a mortal like you."
"As you've said," Fundy muttered, his ears pinning back to his skull in a sign of displeasure. He was captivated by the god in a way that had him feeling like a fool once again. Just being near him set him on edge, and it showed in the bristle of his fur and the subtle baring of his fangs.
"If it is love that you desire, perhaps I could offer you that as well." Fundy opened his mouth to argue, to say that he would rather die than have some powerful being force feelings onto any of his loved ones, but he was cut off by the being continuing to speak.
"You are a fascinating little creature, Fundy. Perhaps I could be the one to give you what you wish. If you would let me, I would like to fall in love with you," DreamXD said, voice barely a whisper. Fundy felt any words he might say catch in his throat, sharp and cutting as a blade. Embarrassment made his skin feel aflame under his fur.
"I don't know," Fundy finally managed. "It's not an easy task, to love me."
"It's easy for a god, little fox, and you absolutely fascinate me. No desire for power. No bloodlust. You refused me, even as I pushed the gifts into your paws. You had the possibility of being worshiped, and yet you turned it down for the sake of genuine connection. Fascinating."
Fundy swallowed heavily and nodded.
"Okay," he choked out. "Let's try this."