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There was once a princess who lived in a beautiful castle. She was never hot, never cold. She was never thirsty and she was never hungry. The princess had a party with her friends where they discussed the latest fashions and gossiped about the scandals in their circles. One of them told the princess that the peasants under her rule were complaining about starving to death, as they had no bread to eat.
The princess, bewildered, replied, “why do they not simply eat brioche?”
“Quiche!” Pie drags himself to where his comrade’s body sprawls, blood pooling on the concrete ground. He cradles and shakes him, but his death is evident, even in the serenity of his expression. Pie’s throat closes as his eyes turn hot. “You fool.” Pie knew that he had come to save the girl he claimed he loved. He should have known that he did not stand any chance against Deep Blue — rate of survival was strictly 0.00%
And yet.
Pie thought he was done mourning his people. He came on this perilous journey so he did not have to any longer. His taciturn heart wavers as tears stream down his cheek. If only Quiche had died for a better cause. But no, he died protecting this girl that he thought he had some connection, some infatuation with.
He lifts his head to look upon the ones responsible for Quiche’s death. They talk about peace and unity as if it is suddenly so easy to obtain.
“Why can’t humans and aliens live together?” she asks.
And for a moment, it seems that Deep Blue believes her. No, Deep Blue would never. It is this Aoyama that has his attachment to her. It is this Aoyama that nearly killed Deep Blue because of his connection, his infatuation.
Pie sets Quiche down and he stands up. He wishes Quiche could have done more than perish so pointlessly, but perhaps he can grant him one final wish. He must do this if he wants any chance at saving Deep Blue and his people. Pie always knew that the deciding moment would be his.
He charges. He picks up the sword. He belts out a war cry. With the last of his strength, he strikes.
And he pushes the blade right through her stomach. She lets out a final gasp as he retracts it and steps back, watching as she falls to her knees. Ichigo holds her torso, a pool of blood rapidly bloating around the wound as she collapses forward. “Ao…yama…”
Pie closes his eyes as Deep Blue screams — or is it Aoyama? He howls and tears at his scalp before he lunges forward, wrapping his cold hands around Pie’s neck. “What have you done?!” he bellows.
“Regain yourself, Master Deep Blue,” says Pie, even as his grip tightens. “I have destroyed all that tethers Aoyama to this world. C…Cast him away.”
Deep Blue’s eyes go blank. His grip slackens and he gazes off into the distance, thousands of leagues away. Minutes pass but they feel like hours as Pie waits to see who triumphs: Aoyama or Deep Blue. Finally, he moves. He turns slowly, looking down at Ichigo’s lifeless body, then Quiche’s. Deep Blue regards the shimmering cut on his palm and a mirthless smile crosses his lips.
“You did the right thing, Pie.”
Pie bows his head, in reverence and relief. “Thank you.”
As Deep Blue commands the troops of his people to claim their promised land, Pie walks back to Quiche’s body. He summons the last of his strength to pick him up. “I promise that we will bury you in the greenest land. You will be remembered as a hero.”