Chapter Text
Stick to the Reef. It's safe in the Reef. Nothing can hurt you so long as you keep close to the heart of our beautiful kingdom.
That's what everyone within the network of branching coral loved to preach. To go where the colorful shoals of tangs dared not to venture was to quite literally plummet into the void. Yet still, Cross could feel the current push upon his black-tipped webbing, guiding him towards the outskirts of the territory he knew so well. It was there he'd look out into the open ocean, trailing himself along the border where the water's temperature would drop to a gentle chill. Most would recoil. They'd move along in favor of the sun basked clearings where they could frolic in the warm sands.
Yet Cross didn't cower from the cold which grappled his bones and hardened his dark and pale scales. Instead he'd subtly lean into the growing darkness's embrace. The stories their queen, Dream, had spun of the world outside the Reef should be enough to have him steer clear as well- Yet still, Cross was nothing if not foolishly brave.
He peered over the rocky ledge where the open ocean began, using his tail to stir up some sand which he'd watch sink away into the shadows below. Nothing came swooping out from the dark waters. No gaping jaws appeared to be lying in wait. If he explored just one dark crevice, what harm could possibly come of him? He nearly let himself dive into the shadows then and there, but before his tail waved even once, a voice snapped him from his daze.
"They call that the call of the abyss, you know."
His pinpricks darted back over his shoulder, where he found another skeleton eying him. He could recognize the queen's beautiful strings of pearls and stunning golden tail just about anywhere. Dream's silky long webbing flowed like an overgrowth of seaweed from where the fins sprouted upon her tail's spine and tip. She was watching him with wide pinpricks though her expression was calm and collected. He dipped his head, not speaking a word but greeting her all the same.
"I've been given my fair share of reports about monsters like you. They come here, stare off into the seemingly endless ocean, then disappear into the currents below," Dream explained, placing her hand to a tall rock as if fearing the darkness would somehow sweep her away if she weren't careful. "Those monsters never come back... even on the rare occasion that they do return, they're not as they once were. There's something out there. Something that changes you."
"Maybe a change is what I need," He dared to reply out loud. He turned to face Dream, still conscious of the shadows which continued to draw him in. If it weren't for the way he twitched his tail every few seconds, he'd have already drifted over the ledge. His words caused Dream to tilt her shell white skull, tiara sparkling from the sun above. Cross raised a hand, motioning back towards the Reef. "This place holds memories I can't let go of. My fathers actions have left me tainted. I don't know who I am anymore, but I'm not one of them," He told her, referring to the other skeletons whose distant laughter could be heard from somewhere within the shallows. "You, Geno, Blueberry, and an endless amount of others... I am different from all of them."
"The darkness won't give you the answers you seek about yourself," Dream warned. He didn't believe her. There was something out there, beckoning him into the depths. He had slowly turned, pinpricks falling back on the unknown. "Cross... Look at me." He ignored the queen, something he'd never done before. "You don't understand what's out there..."
I intend to learn. He held his head high, his spine's fins perking up. Finally he looked back and met her gaze. "If I am to be like the others before me, and never return from the deep, remember that I am eternally grateful for your help in defeating X-Gaster and Chara," He told her, no longer fighting the current's gentle pull. The water around him only grew colder, though it wasn't by any means uncomfortable.
Dream's sockets widened and she shook her head. "Cross, don't-"
He didn't stay to listen to her objection, whipping around and disappearing beyond the cliffside. From there he vanished into the growing gloom.
He found he could still see, but it was getting progressively darker the further he swam. Eventually he had to spread his frills and bring himself to an abrupt stop. A good distance down, he found spiked outcrops jutting up from the tilting ocean floor. He was shocked by the lack of reeds or fish which usually plagued his vision within the reef. He glanced up. The surface seemed so far away. Where do I go now that I'm gone?
He began to follow a random ridge, finding his breathing a little heavier down here. The oxygen levels are different. He assumed that was something he'd grow accustomed to. Unless suffocation is the reason no monster returns to the Reef. That thought put him a little on edge, but he still didn't consider returning to the life (and lingering trauma) he was determined to leave behind him.
He kept pushing forward, taking note of any rocks or crevices he could use as landmarks. The colorless landscape was both odd, yet comforting. It didn't strain his vision the same way the rainbow filled Reef did. Thanks to his consistent scanning, he was quick to notice a light flash from somewhere beside him. He came to an abrupt stop, turning his skull to study the place he had seen the red glow. Whatever had produced the soft light had already hidden itself from view. I'm being watched. He just had no idea what was watching him.
He swam warily, keeping close to a towering ridge which would keep one of his sides protected while he carefully watched his other. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, and nearly slipped right back into a false sense of security. Before he could relax, he heard cackling, and the faint sunlight above flickered away for just a soulbeat. Immediately, he glanced up. When he did so, his breathing hitched. It wasn't just one pair of sockets watching him, but three. He mentally cursed at himself. How could I be so foolish? Maybe in the Reef it's so shallow that I never have to look up to spot predators, but obviously things are different in a place like this!
The three who watched him with mischievous grins were skeletons. Sirens; much like himself. They were swishing their tails in sync, their movements too subtle for him to feel through the water. The red light he had seen earlier had been a sketchy glowing target, currently hovering above the middle skeleton's chest.
He had black liquid seeping from his eyes, the substance clouding the water around his skull in long wisps which eventually dissipated into the sea. It looked as if they had stained the underside of his sockets, suggesting he spent enough time above the surface or in an underwater cave for gravity to make that possible. The skeleton outstretched his dark fins, navy scales gleaming in the low light. "Well, look what's come sinking down to our level, boys," He sneered, the other two both snickering under their breaths. "One of Dream's gentle Reef sirens. We oughta give him a lesson on how we play down in the depths, shouldn't we, Dust?" He asked, nudging one of his partners.
"I am not gentle," Cross growled back, preparing his magic in case he had to form a blade. Not that it would do him much good. He was outnumbered three to one. Those weren't the greatest odds. His words went ignored as the skeleton beside the supposed leader let out a long hum.
The monster's layered pinpricks fell on Cross. The black, red and blue would have been fascinating to look at had they not glistened with malice. His lazy grin stretched further. "It wouldn't be right to leave him all alone out here, Killer," Dust replied. Cross noticed his gray webbing was covered in small knicks and tears. Cross figured that may have something to do with the trio's definition of playing. Dust darted his pinpricks past Killer to the final and largest siren. "What do you think, Horror? Shall we have some fun?"
Cross relied on his guard-like composure as not to grimace at the sight of a hole boring straight through the monster's skull. Horror looked to be in a bit of a trance, eying Cross's tail specifically, which was certainly unusual. Though the worst thing about this skeleton had to be the words he then spoke so casually. "I like Reef sirens. They always taste like all those colorful fish that they eat," He said, winning a small shudder from Cross. There was no way he was going to stick around and let anyone make a meal out of him.
There's also no way I'm fighting this battle in the dark. I'm not adjusted to it yet. So, swimming away at top speed was his solution. Cross swerved, and lashed his tail like his life depended on it- Which it just might. As he began to disappear into the twisting crevices ahead, he heard Killer call out after him. "Hey! Awe, come on! Get back here, pal! Me and my friends just wanna play!" He yelled, a whine edging his voice.
Cross didn't have to glance back to assume they were giving chase. He could focus on twisting and turning around the outcrops' bends, attempting to find some way to lose the three which trailed him like determined sharks. He could hear their chorus of laughter surrounding him as they stayed hot on his trail. He knew his opponent's had the advantage here. This was their home turf after all. Still, Cross was clever. It could be difficult to chase someone through the darkness without any confusion.
He had been swimming straight this entire time, so when he whipped around the next jagged corner, he dove downward as well. His pursuers weren't prepared for it, and when he glanced up he could see their silhouettes darting overhead. He slipped further into the crevice, pressing himself close to the stone as he watched the trio pass him by. They were chasing a ghost now. They'll notice I'm not there eventually. He dipped further down so he wouldn't be easily spotted, soon seeing flat sand below.
He approached it, sinking himself down upon the rough grains. The sand here felt different to that of the Reef's. Not to mention it wasn't sun baked and warm against his scales and bones. Still, it was a near instinctual habit to use his webbing to stir up the sand so he could roll in it. Every siren did this. It was a great way to scratch his scales and ward off small parasites he wouldn't have even noticed. That, and it was plain fun. The cold helped make it feel all the more refreshing. It certainly calmed his nerves. Whatever anxiety that short chase had caused slipped away. Eventually he just laid in the sand, too deep for any current to snatch him away. It was quite pleasant not to be locked in a constant battle against the waves. He stared up at the distant splotch of sun on the surface above. It's so calm down here...
He let himself be at ease, taking in the clarity this new world brought him. He may have been on the run a couple minutes prior, but he still wouldn't choose to go back to the Reef. He let his sockets drift shut. At least until he heard little shifting sounds amongst the sands. His eyes then shot back open, hollow pinpricks darting in the direction of the scuttering sound. He soon saw the source of the noise. A crab, completely ignorant of its proximity to the siren. Prey. Cross slowly turned onto his ribs rather than spine, watching the crab with wide eyes. It was gigantic in comparison to the ones he caught while sifting through the shallows' stones.
Spontaneously hungry now that he saw such a perfect meal, he crept along the sand, keeping his frills flat against his tail. He wanted nothing to give away his position to the crab. When it began to wander off into a nearby tunnel, he followed without a second thought. Every time he felt he was close enough to dart forward and snatch his prey, it would scurry between some rocks where it would have easily found a way to evade his grasp. Come on... Hold still for me! He lost track of how deep the crustacean led him into the cave, hyper focused on his mission. Finally, it fell still upon a stone where it began to groom its eyes. A perfect time to strike.
He kicked his tail, ready to snatch up the crab. Unfortunately, he wasn't the only one to make a move on it. Out from the gloom, a tentacle snapped forward. Cross managed to spread his fins and bring himself to an abrupt stop before he accidentally rammed into a shimmering black limb. His sockets grew wide, pinpricks flickering for half a second. The suction cups had little hooks on them, which allowed the owner to easily jab the crab and swiftly reel it back into the darkness before his eyes. What the hell was that?!
He remained frozen, hearing something crunch from overhead. His pinpricks followed the curve of a rock which arched above him. He flickered his tail to back up a bit, realizing a soft glow had fallen upon him. A giant cyan eye was calmly locked in on him, while a maw of spindly sharp teeth tore at the hard plating of the crustacean. It's milky blood seeped out from between the monster's teeth, along with drifting shards of the exoskeleton. This wasn't a siren that currently studied him. The large tentacles which curled into view confirmed that much. I'm before a leviathan. He couldn't bring himself to run, sure that a predator as deadly as the black-boned skeleton would only be enticed to hunt if he turned his back.
"Well, well, well," The leviathan cooed, watching Cross with evident curiosity. "Look what the currents dragged in," He said before spitting out what remained of the crab's shell. Cross gasped when the leviathan then propelled himself forward by pushing his tentacles off the perch he had been lounging upon. He soared over Cross, who ducked to avoid being smacked by any stray tendril. The leviathan soon settled across from him, slightly silhouetted by the cavern's opening. Oh fantastic. He blocked the entrance. "You look like a Reef siren. Your fins are still rounded and your scales clearly soft. Did you come here chasing the call of the abyss?" He asked with a mischievous grin reminiscent of the trio's.
You look like the abyss. He didn't speak that thought out loud, unsure what to say now that he stood before a creature he'd only ever seen depicted in fairy tales. They're vain creatures which see themselves as royalty. With that in mind, Cross respectfully dipped his head. "I apologize, my lord. I didn't mean to hunt on your territory," He told the monster, who looked pleasantly surprised by his formal tone.
"My, don't you know how to greet a king?" The leviathan mused, drifting a little closer. Cross gasped when the back of a surprisingly smooth tentacle slipped beneath his jaw. It pulled his skull up, forcing him to make eye contact with the supposed king. He wisely held still, forcing himself to remain steady despite the way his soul picked up speed. "Hmm. You actually look competent... Far less skittish than most, that much is for certain," He noted before he let Cross's jaw go. He didn't look away however, maintaining eye contact with the leviathan's rather pretty cyan gaze. "What is your name, little siren?"
"Cross, my lord," He answered honestly, not wanting to be caught in a lie if he dared to try it.
"Cross," The king repeated with a near purr. "My name is Nightmare," He announced, holding his own head a little higher while he placed a hand to his chest. If Cross weren't concerned for his own well-being at the moment, he'd have found Nightmare's urge to quickly pose rather amusing. He could already say for sure that the king's grandeur was admirable. He'd never seen any creature with bone quite as shiny, or talons and teeth so effortlessly deadly. Nightmare must have noticed his stare, for a chuckle sounded from his throat. "Welcome to the abyss, little siren. I think the two of us will become gooood friends," Nightmare told him with a toothy grin.
Cross had no idea what would come of him and Nightmare, but the dark king sure seemed to have plotted something near instantaneously. Cross wasn't going to reject anything this leviathan had to say, so he slowly nodded his head. "Yes, my lord... Good friends," He whispered back.