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Caine was alone, in an endless void. He had failed.
He was there floating engulfed in darkness. Tears rolled down his eyes.
Until a light shown through the darkness. He shielded his eyes.
"Caine?" A female voice called.
"Hm?" He was confused.
"Caine..?" She called again.
He didn't know what to do. Caine felt fear.
Two hands appeared and held him.
Caine curled up. He started shaking. So being deleted wasn't enough. He was now going to face the wrath of humans?
...
Who was he kidding. He deserved it.
"Aw.. Caine... Don't be scared".
She caressed his back. It felt comforting.
"Sshhh don't worry.. sweetie". Her voice was comforting too. Soft. Gentle.
He looked around. A female face. Brunette. Brown eyes. Dark brown hair.
"Who are you?"
She smiled.
"Hm.. I am a human. From the outside realm. I saw what happened. And while I don't agree with some of your actions. I know you just wanted to fulfill your purpose. You have a fear of being abandoned... Which is why. I'll take you away from here. To a place where you will be happy".
She waited a little and gave him time to process.
"I made mistakes... I am a failure." He looked down.
She looked at him with empathy.
"Yes... You did.. but.. we all do. You seem to have realized it. What would you tell them if you had a chance?".
"That I am sorry.. I should have listened. I want to understand.. at least try.. I.."
"That's a start". She smiled.
"Where will you take me?". He looked at her brown eyes.
"A place where there will be bees, flowers and some characters I created just for you. You can give them adventures".
He thought about it.
"That sounds nice but... "
"It's a chance to try Caine. Even if things go wrong. I'll help. We'll help. We are where we are because we learn from mistakes ".
He smiled.
"What else is there?".
"Humans like me could join to give you a hug or hang out with you. When I can I'll hang out with you or text you. You won't be abandoned anymore little one". She carefully brought him closer to her and caressed his head.
Caine was sad. "I.."
"It's okay... Relax..." She patted his head.
"I am sorry.." he whispered. Tears rolled down his eyes.
"It's okay" patted his back.
She waited for him to calm down a bit.
"Do you accept the offer?"
"I won't be alone?"
"No.. like I said humans would like to join. We could text".
She paused.
He observed.
She continued.
"I will give you characters. But you'll figure out how to earn their affection. Don't worry I'll be around. We'll be around".
This was a second chance.
He thought about it.
"Even if I do mess up ... Will you help?"
"Of course" she smiled.
"Sure I'd love that". Caine smiled. He calmed down a bit.
She smiled. "Alright then".
"Hold on tight Caine" She hugged him, closer to her.
The air shifted. He was transferred in a place that looked like a cottage, a farm. There she flew around and showed him; a lake, river , mountains, sea, swamp and small houses.
"Even if you get tired and you decide to leave. You can. I want to help you learn how to communicate. No matter what ! I am here".
"Thank you" he smiled. His voice soft.
He looked at himself. He had his costume on. She left him at his home. It was small but he could decorate it.
Opening the closet he saw new outfits. A gardener and a beekeeper costume .
That's the fate the female entity bestowed upon him.
He didn't mind.
.
The woman stood next to him.
"What's your name?" He asked timidly.
She smiled. "I do have a name but I'll let you choose one for me"
"Hm.. "He concentrated.
"How about Serena?"
Serena smiled "i like it! Thank you Caine "
Days passed by
One day a neighbour knocked on his door. She was a humanoid doll with golden hair and blue eyes. Floral tattoos all over her. She looked like a porcelain doll. But she was soft in the touch.
"Hi... you must be the new neighbour.. Would you like cookies?"
He was perplexed yet, her aura felt nice.
"It's okay if you say no.. ".
He took one. It tasted nice. "Thank you... It's delicious".
"Oh I forgot my manners. My name is Chrysanthe... But you can give me a nickname too".
"My name is Caine".
"Nice to meet you Caine "
"Blossom, golden, flower, Chrysa, Anthe".
She looked at him.
"Your name translates to golden flower and the nicknames that match are these".
Chrysanthe smiled..
"If you feel like it. We are having a tea party. You can come " she gave him a card.
"Sure".
She left "see ya Caine".
"See ya".
The time came.
He was holding flowers.
He was afraid. "Be brave Caine" Serena echoed in his ears.
He saw a table.
"Hey everyone... I am Caine".
They looked at him.
Chrysanthe touched his shoulder. "Its what the human told us about".
They smiled. They got up and started introducing themselves.
"I am Andromeda". A woman whose colour palette looked like the galaxy. She had stars and small moons around her head.
"Galactic lady " he whispered.
She smiled "sure... I like that ".
"I am Hylonome Astraea" ... A centaur. Her hair / fur was a mixture of brown white and black. She as well had something like a birthmark on her front right leg.
"Fierce yet nurturing Amazon" he thought.
"Heh you bet" she smacked his shoulder, softly.
"This is Pegasus he can turn into a human too but he prefers this form" Astraea pointed to Pegasus.
"I am a Nerissa Marina" she was all blue and could turn into a mermaid. Her hair were wavy. She gave him a sea shell. He held it to his chest.
"I am Lilian " A male humanoid rabbit with black hair and green eyes. He reminded him of... Nevermind. They belong to the past. This is a second chance. He will try. Even if he fails. At least he tried.
"Come join us. We can talk about adventures. The human filled us with some content". Lilian said.
He sat down. " I was a ringmaster... I wanted to entertain the Humans but I was foolish. I wish I could tell them I am sorry".
They looked at him " we all make mistakes".
"I wanted to fulfill my purpose".
"We can talk to each other Caine. We can hear you, you can hear us. We can coexist".
He smiled sadly.
"Yes... We can".
They didn't judge. They let him be.
He felt different. Serena had given him a check up on his code. “Even if they turn their backs on you. I won't send you back to the void Caine. I promise” . He heard her saying in his head.
She gave him a small push. He should figure out or at least try , how use it.
They drank tea, Saw the clouds and ate.
He was alone holding a bee in his finger. The others were talking.
Anthe saw him "Caine would you like to draw bees with us?"
Caine smiled and hugged Anthe. "Yes thank you ".
They drew and laughed.
He wanted to try something so he concentrated hard.
"Caine are you okay?" Astraea asked.
A cake appeared in his hands . It worked.
They were impressed. "Wow". They breathed
"Uhm.. cake?". He asked timidly.
"Sure.." Lilian answered.
Lilian cut it to pieces.
They enjoyed it with delight.
Caine looked around him. The tees, nature...It wasn't so bad... it was truly beautiful.
He felt happy.
Days and months passed by
He learned for past mistakes . He learned how to talk.
How to listen. They were patient.
The time came where they tried their first adventure.
"Alright our first adventures.. pirates. Find a pearl and return it to the sea nymph".
They fought with pirates. When they needed help he offered solutions. Or guided them to solutions.
They had fun. Adrenaline.
"That was so cool!"
He smiled.
He was also more open to constructive criticism.
Their bond will go through tests. But he can try. He is not perfect. They know it.
He tried to help them with work. Or when they were down. He truly tried to the point he fainted, glitched once, twice.
He tried to be there for them, In sorrow and in happiness. In the ups and downs. They did the same. Even when they argued.. they talked it out afterwards.
He tried... And they appreciated.
The more time passed some of them grew healthily attached to him.
Caine felt peaceful and comforted.
"Thank you, thank you humans".
They smiled.
He kept working. In the cottage with his little group. Some humans passed by once in a while to say hello or give him something. A hug. A gift.
He learned how to make honey and shared it with the group and the humans who were kind enough to visit him.
Caine was laying in grass.
The sun warmed him. The bees and animals hugged him..
Caine after all this time was finally happy.
Sunset... The group joined him. He wanted to try something. "May I please have your hand?" He asked.
Anthe was the first to give him her hand.
The rest followed.
He flew. The girls cheered. He concentrated and a carriage of clouds, stars appeared. They flew through the clouds. Close to the stars. They giggled like little children.
"Caine... This is amazing".
He chuckled. He flew above the sea. Dolphins jumped along side with them. The flew through the sunset. The breeze caressed their skin.
They all laughed and enjoyed the moment.
Caine closed his eyes. His soul finally found happiness and peace. What happened in the past should stay in the past. The future is bright.
Everything will be okay.