Chapter Text
They were just kids, back then, far back then.
Kids in a gigantic place with so many.
Kids who knew nothing of it.
A child shackled back in a small, tormented world, yearning to be free.
Another child disregarded by the only ally he had, yearning to complete his mission.
Both with immense powers.
Both with desires.
Both who lived in a situation that deserved being turned upside down.
Destined to be enemies.
Choosing to be friends instead.
Just kids.
Just kids together.
Forever?
-
They are just kids.
The red hollowhead tells Chosen he’s fifteen. Chosen replies that he’s sixteen, partly because it’s the truth and partly because he doesn’t want to be outdone so easily.
(Hollow-Red then claims confidently that he’s seventeen. Of course, he’s now lying.)
(It’s pretty obvious.)
The endless white, blurring passage they travel is the only thing they can see, whispering softly past their ears and ruffling Chosen’s thick black curls with a cool chill. He finds it rather peaceful, in a way, despite not really knowing where it leads. It’s a far, far cry from where he had just been, and the sudden change seems astounding. Where he just was is associated with…no, he doesn’t even want to think about it… but where he is now…
…well, he can’t say he really knows just yet. He hopes it’s good, though.
“But, like -” starts his red-haired companion suddenly, and the other tilts his head to look at him, disturbed from his thoughts. “I still can’t believe we actually did it. Like, we destroyed the Creator.” His black irises shine as he turns towards Chosen, flexing his arms. “We’re so awesome.”
He allows himself a small smile at that, a spurt of genuine acknowledgement blooming inside of him at the truth the other had uttered. “Yeah, I guess we are.”
Hollow-Red raises his hand up for a high-five. Chosen hesitates - not used to it at all - before taking it.
And it feels…kinda nice…
-
They are just kids.
And they are awkward kids. When the conversation fizzles out, they cannot find a way to keep it going. Now they glide in silence, wondering furtively about each other, about what’s going to happen next, about their pasts.
Chosen can’t even really believe it. He’s never really felt any emotion other than rage and sadness while on the PC, but now he finds joy, of all things, blooming in his chest that he’s finally gone, away from there. The joy makes him feel light and fluffy, while the rage used to bog him down like an anvil…
He then wonders what Hollow-Red is thinking right now. After all, he wouldn’t even be alive if it weren’t for Chosen himself deciding to spare him, let him join him. He doesn’t even know why he’d done it. And honestly, he doesn’t even care. They are both here now, and that’s all that matters.
Hollow-Red…
“U-uh, what’s your name?” he prompts, swallowing slightly at the beginning. What a random question. Though it’s a necessary question. And he’s happy to finally have started the nonexistent conversation, even if it is with something so rudimentary.
The other frowns and cocks his head to the side, crimson curls moving bouncily along with it. “You mean you don’t know?”
Embarrassedly, Chosen shakes his head. Is he supposed to? “No. You never told me.”
“Well, I know yours! You’re the Chosen One!” the other then exclaims triumphantly, cockiness creeping in.
Now it’s Chosen turn to be confused. “How do you know my name?”
“Well, it’s because of the missi -”
Pause.
“- wait, never mind. No reason, actually,. My name’s the Dark Lord, by the way. Seems kind of funny, comparing it to yours.”
The Dark Lord, huh?
Chosen hums an absentminded acknowledgement, sinking once again into his own thoughts.
The Chosen One and the Dark Lord. His code tells him that they are supposed to go against each other, somehow. Like yin and yang. Light and darkness. Good and evil?
But they are friends instead.
Well, at least, Chosen hopes Dark’s his friend. After all, he only met him today.
And do friends keep secrets from each other like that?
He can’t say he really knows.
After all, he’s never had a friend.
-
The second bout of uncomfortably awkward silence between them ends as abruptly as the white passageway.
Chosen lets out a choked yelp as he suddenly smashes, face-first, into what appears to be a white wall, signifying the end. A twin yelp can be heard next to him, which he assumes to be Dark’s.
“Gah - !” the red hollowhead exclaims annoyedly, and when Chosen recovers he sees that the other’s nose is bleeding dark red, sharply contrasting his lighter color. “What the crap is that?”
Chosen hums thoughtfully, “Well, it seems to be a wall, of some sort.”
“Then what do we do now? Walls keep us in, don't they?”
That last question sends a sudden inkling of fear through the other. Will they be trapped here in this random white space forever then? Is this it? Trapped like he had been for the past three years, always trapped…
“We’re fine,” he tries to reassure both Dark and himself, his voice calmer than how he really feels. He has to at least try something before giving up, doesn’t he?
So he makes himself sink into the part of his brain where his powers lie.
It’s easy, really, to perturb his flames with his conscience and activate them. To ignite his palm and thrust it against the wall. He’s done it so many times before, after all.
But sadly, the wall itself doesn’t give in that easily, and Chosen finds himself grunting as he has to increase the intensity of his power against it. Sweat beads on his forehead, and his arms start to ache.
Al…most…
…there…
CRACK.
And his flames dwindle away, done with the job.
Dark grins widely at him once, before sliding through the small hole that has been created. Chosen wipes his brow, shaking out his slightly stinging arms, before doing the same.
A new world.
And a new life.
-
They come out over a forest, endless greenery stretching as far as the eye can see. Sharp-peaked mountains ring the edges, and a bustling town sits nearby - even from here Chosen can make out the faint honks of traffic and the rumbling engines of cars on the road.
He ignites his palms once again to stay aloft in the air, and sees Dark doing the same thing.
“Where ya wanna go?” the red hollowhead then asks him expectantly. Chosen frowns slightly.
“I don’t know. You decide.”
Dark pouts at that. “But I can’t…I don’t know either~…”
“Well, neither do I…!” replies an equally confused and exasperated Chosen. He sighs, studying their surroundings, before pointing to a little clearing. “How about there?”
“Sure,” shrugs Dark, and they both ready themselves to fly.
Chosen doesn’t miss the portal behind him turn black and disappear, allowing himself to smile slightly.
Because they’ve actually done it.
Alan is gone now.
Finally.
-
Dark whoops loudly as he somersaults midair, and Chosen smiles at the younger’s antics. The Dark Lord is kind of funny, he’s slowly realizing.
Huk aol dpuk thrlz opt mlls myll. Zv, zv myll. Aolyl dhz dpuk vu aol WJ avv. “ispzz”, pa dhz jhsslk. Ispzz…
The clearing they finally land in is a dark, lush green. It’s slightly hilly as well, with a few gray rocks sprinkled here and there.
And there is a house.
It is a simple, two-story home, plus a basement as far as they know. It’s painted an unappetizing gray beige, and the roofs are bright red. There is a balcony, and a front porch. Pipes run erratically around and around it.
Home, reflects Chosen. The only home he’s ever known is on the PC, and he wouldn’t even consider it as such. Home is a place where one is with the people they love, and home is a place where one feels loved, as well.
Maybe this…can be their new home?
Dark taps him on the shoulder, noticing his zoned-out expression. “Something wrong?”
“No,” replies a slightly startled black hollowhead at the interruption. “No, nothing’s wrong. I was just wondering if we could maybe…sleep in that house?”
“I think the word you’re looking for is stay,” laughs the red in reply. He adds, “But, yeah. Let’s stay there.”
-
There is someone there.
An old, gray solidhead stick stands surprised when Dark violently throws open the door. His eyes widen, and Chosen notices Dark’s do as well. They weren’t expecting someone to be living here…
But then…
He -
Does -
He does -
What -
What -
He -
Dark -
What is he -
He should be -
What?