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The trees spread their roots far and wide underground. Growing patiently, their branches also spread. Intricate, like a mantle that insisted on covering the night sky.
The Dragon liked it that way, perhaps. From the ground, the endless spread of their leaves covered the view. It was pretty, wherever you looked at it from.
From above, it looked like a soft rug of leaves and clouds. Especially during the nights, where the silver moonlight highlighted the tallest trees. As if they were the ones deserving of its attention.
They had found a liking to hanging above the tallest of trees. At the center of this Paradise, standing erect and imposing - on level with mountains and cliffs of equal grandeur. The branches were essentially their refuse, a space where they would hide and rest.
A space where they could allow the illusion to falter slightly. Dark spaces that didn't look quite right, nests of birds that disappeared into smoke at the touch.
The tree was imposing. But proof of how the illusion was crumbling, slowly but surely.
Lychee hung upside down, their tail tightly wrapped around a branch. Back on Earthbread, their wings would wrap them - a lonely embrace that hid their small figure from view, covering it from the harsh night cold. But here, there was no need for that.
Not like they could, with these wings of stone.
Sturdy, hard. Solid ore, shining and reflective. They were sure these new wings could withstand the shining lasers from the Dragon Orbs - perhaps reflect them off?
Oh, how precious they were when the moonlight highlighted them. Imperfect, perhaps, the almost translucent stone not being smoothed out. But they liked it a bit harsh. Or maybe they simply couldn't afford energy to smooth them out.
Truly, they knew this spell would dissipate. Eventually and slowly, the truth would come out, in the form of smoke and fog. The moon itself would break down, and all they have built would be gone.
And forced back into the real world they would be.
They felt as a snake slithered down their body, extending an arm. The serpent was quick to perch itself upon the lent out limb, small eyes staring at the Dragon.
Dragon who stared back at it. Slit pupils meeting with exhaust ones, thinned by the distress to the point they could very well be a mirror of the snake's ones.
They never liked snakes. Not when they served Longan, not anytime. And yet, they could see themselves in it. A creature small, easy to step on. Weak, in a way.
Weak until it bit. Until the venom seeped in so deep into your bloodstream, the bite itself would be oozing with it in mere hours. Weak in the moment, perhaps. But once it did what it had to do, the consequences were lethal.
Yeah. Perhaps they were like a snake, to a degree. The consequences of their actions lingered on even after they had done. Everything they had done had weight - believing Longan, helping them.
It had been like a snake bite to fate itself. All of it.
And now the bite was getting warm, infected. This Paradise was a temporary anaesthetic to a poison that had been long since unleashed - long since allowed to kill, slowly but surely.
It only made the pain stop hurting. It didn't eradicate the source. The bites were still there, all itching, all dirty. They simply weren't lethal until now.
In here, the absence wasn't as heavy. The pain of betrayal was muffled by the constant need to keep up the spell. There was no time to truly stop and question everything, less the pit of vipers this realm truly was, would open and bite again.
Their clawed fingers curled around the snake. Gently, as if fearing hurting it. No time for overthinking all this, they thought. Or moreso, decided, upon seeing how some mountains in the distance seemed to fade in and out for a mere split second.
Thinking too much would weaken this false realm. The consequences of that would be far worse than any snake bite.
Because they were trapped with something worse than a snake. They were trapped with Longan.
While true that they had managed to bend their mind enough for the spell to have effect… it didn't make their presence any less tolerable. Now that their affection towards them had vanished and the curtain of deceit lifted, they saw them as who they were.
A wicked creature. Something that had sunk teeth in them when they were vulnerable, and not let go. Like a hand that plucked the petals of a rose, the reason it needed thorns to begin with.
In here, they were the one being deceived. The one that fell for this false plane of existence, the one whose mind was foggy enough for faux happiness to push any of their ideals to the back.
In here, Lychee was the one manipulating them.
And witches, they felt disgusted for that at times.
Their entire deal was manipulation. It had become something they did easily - be it for fun or for survival. They lied, lied, lied, lied their way to the top. Forced others to believe their words.
But in a way, it was the same Longan did. And that conflicted them. They were truly a snake. No, no. Less than that. A parasite that wouldn't be anything if it hadn't been for their intervention.
They hated them for that.
But they knew they couldn't kill them. They couldn't take them down the way they desired to. The same way the snake held in their claws could bite all it wanted, and its poison would remain as ineffective as if biting into a piece of stone.
And like the little snake, they played it smart. They didn't bite, regardless of whether they wanted to do so or not. It was easier to keep them trapped in the same place as them, under this spell.
Even if the rage once this realm inevitably collapses would be unleashed in the form of teeth and claws tearing away their flesh in that slow way only Longan knew.
Nobody knew how far Longan would go once the lie was revealed. And it was scary.
It would begin all again. The isolation, the honeyed words. “You did it for your own benefit, like a True Dragon”, or something like that. Or perhaps there would be no dramatic speech before the violence was unleashed once again.
They really needed to stop overthinking things. It drained them. Getting drained too quickly was dangerous. They were already losing sleep too often - one wrong move and everything would fall down again.
But the thought of what Longan would do refused to leave them. Perhaps they really had been hurt that much. Perhaps those crashouts, those sudden swings between wanting them dead and wanting to please them were for a reason.
Perhaps they really had been used the way no one deserved to be used. Isolated, gaslight, conditioned. All of it. They simply had never cared about it enough to dwell into the, now apparent, endless mistreatment.
With a sight, they pulled themselves up into a sitting position. No longer hanging upside down, they placed their hand on the Tree's branch, allowing the snake to slither back into whatever nest it had come from.
They wouldn't hold the little creature in a way it would familiarize itself with their touch. They did not trust themselves enough to not accidentally hurt it through their affection.
They gazed up at the moonlight. It seemed to gaze down at them, to reciprocate. Light shining upon all the tall mountains, upon this endless yet finite expansion of forests, lakes and mountains.
In the distance, the Specter flew across. It remained as large as ever, but it was simply that. A Specter, Longan's true form, that they couldn't fully erase.
Even from far, far away, it remained massive. Its figure curling across mountains whole, before the slender, wretched body disappeared between the night clouds and mist, the golden armor and scales shining under the light provided by the moon.
A presence that simply existed to take up space, independently of what the true Longan, now under Lychee's spell, did. Something they better watch from afar.
Though not even their thoughts on such matter could distract them from the creaking of the tree as someone climbed it up. They weren't as lost in thought as they had made themselves believe, apparently.
—So you came back, hm? I thought you'd be out patrolling or… fixing the temples or something like that.
—I was, yes. I should go back to doing that, but I felt you could… use some company perhaps. The night is young, after all. There's always time to go back patrolling later.
The armored woman walked up to the Dragon, hands holding onto other branches so as to not fall. She did have a good balance, but it was better to not risk it. Especially when armored.
—It warms my heart to hear you talk like that. I was just thinking, though. Would hate to rob you of your patrol time.
—Nonsense. If I am here, it is because I wish to be, Lychee. And, besides. Things have been calm enough to allow myself a moment to check up on you.
—You sure? The land is… well. Big. Very big. There are parts of it not even I have explored! I'd hate it if you missed something for my sake!
—I’ll repeat myself. I'm not missing anything, Lychee. You're the one I can afford to let time pass by for.
The tree creaked once again and she sat down next to them. Her spear was laid in the same branch their scythe had been left in - always within reach, yet not a disturbance or extra weight.
Lychee had no way of knowing which parts of these words were real and which ones were fabricated by the spell. Rambutan had always been like that. Too caring for her own good, perhaps.
And yet, when creating this realm - when that promise was made in the Pale Expanse, in the direst of situations - the Dragon had sworn to keep her alive.
If only it was that easy. Keeping alive a soul so mangled away, one that tethered dangerously between life and death… it was as hard as keeping Longan under the spell.
And in a way, when they intertwined her soul with the spell, they had been self-indulgent enough to alter her behavior. Small things, of course. The Rambutan in front of them was, for the most part, the same one that they shared such a history with.
Their hands brushed. Rambutan's slightly calloused ones, with Lychee’s clawed, naturally roughed up one. Cold claws held gently by her hands. It was that moment they knew they truly had been too self indulgent in how far they let the spell change her.
And they hated themselves for it, to a degree. That was undeniable. They felt like that robbed her of her autonomy and freedom.
But it was sweet. To be cared for. To have feelings be reciprocated. It was the type of sweet that made you gag at first, before the flavor settled in. Or like a poison, one willingly ingested.
The death of them wouldn't be Longan. It would be no pit of vipers, no backstab, no revenge.
It would be themselves.
They didn't need a prophecy to know that the endless conflicts within them would eventually be their demise. One day, their mind would refuse to obey - the venom in their veins would sicken them, their fog choking their lungs. Until nothing but their claws at their throat remained.
They'd die in a venomous red.
—...Lychee? Are you okay? You… seem a bit out of it, my dear.
They snapped out of it as quickly as they had gotten in it. They didn't even realize the trails of purple and cyan smoke abandoning their mouth, vanishing into the cold night air like vapor.
Not even here they had true control over their own smoke.
—Psh! I'm fine, Rambutan! Fine, fine! Just… a bit tired, you know. Busy here and there, getting worshipped and loved by… the forest creatures and lesser dragons!
They did have control over these creatures, though. Wyverns, snakes, dinosaurs. They had even brought back some lesser, weaker Dragons - much to Longans delight - off their memory alone.
They didn't know for sure if it had been off their memories or off their desires. The Dragons they remembered would never worship them without spells involved.
—Sounds a bit busy. You said it yourself, the place is big. Going from mountain to mountain, from temple to temple… don't your wings hurt sometimes?
—Nope! Not anymore! They are a bit stiff, yeah, yeah, but they are no longer weak membranes and muscles. I did promise I'd get stone ones, right?
—...hah. To protect. Yes, I remember it.
—And I did! In the end, they are as gorgeous as indestructible! No fatigue will break them down, none of it. Ever. I'll always be ready to fly, as long as this Paradise endures!
They didn't know they had shifted closer to her until their head was leaning onto her armored shoulder. They didn't know they were essentially purring - or the closest they could do to it - against her, the vibrations coming from their throat being nothing but a display of how pleased they were at her presence.
It was better to feel their neck vibrating that to feel the bile threatening to spill out of it at the thought of… anything else. Better to let out sounds of pleasure than that.
—No fatigue might break your wings, the same way no blow might break this armor you have made for me, that is true. But… you still have to rest. You look tired, my dear.
—Says you out of all Cookies! Always so strange, so, so strange! Taking hardly any breaks yourself… yet talking of me about resting.
They booked her nose playfully, a snicker leaving them. They did not even notice this time how sudden their mood had changed again. One moment they had been contemplating potential suicide if things went wrong. The other they were laughing and getting silly, basking in the glory of the night.
Their mind was an enigma. Broken beyond recognition, yet pulled back together in a way one couldn't tell when I why it would shatter again.
—That… is true too. Did you spend the night thinking of truths to say to me?
—Nuh uh! That's just how it is. We are just two hypocrites at the top of the world, aha! Don't you find it endearing, my darling? We now have all the time in the world to be like this together!
—Hah… true, true, and true again. It is endearing to see you happy. Your happiness is my own. Though… your exhaustion is a burden I have to share with you.
—Come on, darling! We both know I'll be all fine when the sun rises again! It's just night time tiredness!
One of the hands holding their claws moved to hug them. Though it did stop before setting on their body, as if asking for permission. As if making sure Lychee wouldn't jump away from the touch.
The armored, muscular arm was comforting around the Dragon's back. Hand placed upon their shoulder, they closed all distance between each other in a gentle embrace, her thumb softly rubbing against their sleeve.
—Don’t lie to me. You can't fool me like that. Lychee… I've seen you. Hanging from this same tree like a bat, all night. Did you know your eyes shine in the dark? They reflect the moonlight like the most precious of gems.
—Are you saying my eyes are like gems? Aww, I'm flattered!
—Yes, to a degree. But it also means I can see when you are awake..the hours you spend staring into the nowhere, hanging like fruit… I haven't seen you back into your nest in days now.
—Oh, and silly me thought you'd only want to compliment my beautiful eyes… should've expected you out of everyone to be so… observant, aha!
—Pshh, I'm being serious here, Lychee! You need to rest a little bit. I have seen the Longan Dragon resting more often than you.
OH THAT WAS IT. They'd go and take a well deserved nap. Out of spite, solely. No way they were resting better than they were, free of worries, guilt and concerns!
Their restlessness was one of the many things they couldn't attach a specific cause for. Was it the crushing guilt that made them gag and pace around nervously all the time? Was it the insecurity, the idea that they'd wake up into stone or mauled away by a once again aware Longan?
Or were they still too lonely to rest properly?
—Fiiiine… I'll go rest! The Paradise can wait, I suppose. It won't go anywhere while I'm sleeping. It doesn't go anywhere while I'm aware, either ways.
—If you… need company, I can go with you. Guard the entrance, maybe. Anything so you can rest, my dear.
A light peck was placed upon their cheek, as she helped them up into their feet - despite the unstable balance in the shaky tree branch.
How they had allowed themselves to indulge with these changes. Little things, it had been. But there were now mutual feelings that Rambutan would have never had outside. How disgusting. How sweet.
Those… were issues they'd try to rationalize when they were feeling energetic enough to think and maintain this Paradise stable.
Issues they'd probably never think about.
For the spell's sake.
Their legs felt a bit like jelly as the blood flowed through them once again. No spell or realm would fix how their circulatory system essentially malfunctioned when things got too cold at night.
—Then… be my guest, my dearest subject! I, the great Lychee Dragon, command you to be my knight in shining armor for the night! I command it, yes!
—Your word… I'll follow, my dear. Lead the way, then, less we waste the night merely standing here.
She picked up her spear. Or well, the modified spear. The tips, the metal, changed for a more fitting theme that maintained the shape her tribe had given it.
It fit nicely in her hand as she grabbed it again. Her hands were shaped to hold weapons the same way they were shaped to gently hold someone else's hand. Her soul was made to protect as much as it was made to guide.
It was the polar opposite of Longan's hands. Holding onto those claws, accepting their protection, meant cutting yourself deep with their sharpness. There was a price for their affection, for their touch. A price not present in her rough, calloused fingers.
—Actually… it's a long, looong boring walk. And it's too cold to walk. If you know what I mean.
They grabbed their scythe, their grip on it being as natural as Rambutan's was on her spear. After all, they have had that weapon for millennia now. Even if they had promptly changed the design here… it was still the same.
—Are you sure? I can always walk. Don't want you to struggle to carry stuff.
—Have you forgotten? I'm a Dragon! I can cut through entire mountains with nothing but a swing of my scythe! Of course I can carry you!
As to demonstrate, they jumped. Now perched upon her shoulders, tail wrapped around her waist, they ensured The grip was steady before expanding their wings.
Pretty. So. So pretty. What a shame the way to achieve such a pretty state had been so bloody, so painful.
But they didn't think of it as they took flight. Rambutan wasn't scared or worried, she knew better than to doubt Lychee on something like this. She simply clenched her spear with one hand, and held onto the Dragon's tail with the other one.
They flew. Through dog, through clouds. Above the mantle of trees, that covered the ground. Above some ponds, some rivers that undoubtedly led to lakes.
All created by the Dragon's magic. So precious. So broken as well, cracks showing in ways no delusion could cover up. But regardless, it was precious. A mesmerizing sight for the warrior, as they made way to Lychee's new nest.
They had grown a bit tired of all the caves and cages, honestly. The monsters remained, that's for sure. They guarded this temple of sorts endlessly, their purple and pink fur plastered between bushes and rocks.
But otherwise, one could have never guessed they would have picked such a way to present their nest. A temple, it was. Created by them, taking details and ideas from all the architecture they had seen through their existence. Parts of it looked like buildings you'd see at the Lotus Paradise, for example.
But the resemblance was mostly shared with the Rambutan Tribe's houses. Specially with what had once been the house of Rambutan herself. She never found the resemblance uncanny. Could she even feel that way?
There hadn't been much said between them in the flight. One was too busy… flying. Trying to avoid crashing down or something.
The other was gazing at the spectacle below with the amazement of someone that still held hope for life and reality.
All things considered, Lychee would never know what truly prompted these thoughts and ideas to creep in. There was no reason for them to suddenly question if they had made the right choice at building their new nest like this.
Witches, what a night. What an absolute rollercoaster of a night. They had never even seen a proper rollercoaster and they already knew this night had been exactly like one, mentally wise.
Though they'd never admit it.
—As I said… be my guest! No need to stand outside all night! Come rest with me until the sun rises, my dearest. My monsters already take care of any potential threats… though there are no threats in my realm!
—You sure? I don't mind staying outside. It's my duty as the leader of my Tribe to keep guard all times.
—...Until we can restore your tribe… Just rest with me, ‘kay? Save life powder for tomorrow!
They walked inside. Tempted to almost plead her to just rest a bit. All of a sudden, the good mood had vanished into a sticky worry that didn't let them breathe, as if the weight of how fragile this situation was had dawned upon at the worst moment.
And surprisingly, she followed. She didn't discard the armor or anything, no. She felt comfortable with the metal on her. She simply stood as the Dragon got themselves comfortable in the nest, made of neatly arranged leaves and hand-made pillows.
She watched as they stretched out, like a cat finding the perfect spot. It was easy to forget even in this Paradise some animalistic instincts remained. They were a Dragon, in the end. One that needed to sleep before their thoughts swallowed them while.
—Come on, Rambutan, dearest! Just come lay down with me! I promise it's comfortable here, if that's what you fear!
—I do not fear anything. I simply think it's cute to look at you. You are dazzling, more shining than any gem this Paradise could show.
She giggled slightly as she finally got into the nest, ignoring how Lychee looked as flustered as conflicted. Their tail wagged slightly as it pushed the other closer, whereas their mind couldn't decide whether to drown in self loathing or bask in her affection.
Their body did decide for them. Unconsciously and without any thought, their arms and legs wrapped around her still armored figure - refusing to let go, as they buried their head into the nape of her neck the best they could.
—...Tch. What an odd one. Even here… I know I'm dazzling, and yet when you say it, my pride takes a step back for my heart to receive the blow.
—Then I will say it. Over, and over. Until the day I die, I'll think of you as the best thing in my world. Even when my body grows cold, even when nothingness overtakes it…
Even while her real body remained still in time into the Pale Expanse, not allowed to fully disappear, she still cared for them.
And she would always do.