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When did all of this happen? Since when did he wear white? Why did Katie say this would be the best day of his life? Why?
He never asked for this. He never asked to be used for a "fair" alliance, but they would always see him as nothing more than an object...
Their favorite one to break and repair whenever they pleased.
Cucurucho always reminded him of what he was to them: Just another experiment.
A strangely interesting one, one that showed more emotion than the others. A cold-blooded killer who would always obey an order. A perfect experiment—They loved him.
They loved watching him break.
They loved seeing him suffer every single day, unable to understand his purpose, unable to understand where he belonged.
They mocked him.
Even after he created an entire faction to stand against them, all he received was ridicule.
Because he had been programmed to create that faction.
To rebel against them... He had been obeying them all along.
The people he chose were selected under that same criterion: To fight against the Federation... Except for Ewroon.
He had a greater purpose, one far more important than ████████.
But now... Everything had spiraled out of control.
Cucurucho had come back for him, locked him away once again.
Tortured him until he couldn't take it anymore, Until he finally obeyed.
He made a deal with Multi, ghat mad scientist who was always trying to ruin his life.
He killed Juan... One of the few people Ash truly cared about,
Multi... The very same man who had always tried to take everything away from him, his family, his friends, his own life.
Multi didn't want to see him happy, he wanted to see him miserable.
And why?
Just because Ash never spoke to him again after that meeting they had to inspect the reactor during the first few days.
Ash had been so close to trusting him, to funding the project and to helping him.
But Ewroon warned him that Multi couldn't be trusted, and Ash listened.
He never contacted him again, no matter how many times they crossed paths, he never said a single word to him.
Until Cucurucho intervened, he gave him no choice.
He simply told him that if Multi was truly going to help the Federation and trust them...
Ash would be engaged to him.
Multi now had complete control over him, Over even Cucurucho.
And the news spread like the wind, from house to house, from ear to ear.
Everyone stared at the notice posted at spawn, displaying the date, time, and location.
For many, the announcement hit like a bucket of cold water. Most accepted the newly formed couple without questioning it.
But those closest to Ash knew something was terribly wrong, the Glitch would never willingly choose Multi.
He would rather die... No one wanted to believe Cucurucho or the Federation.
Yet something deep inside them whispered that it was true, and all they could do now was wait... To see whether the "Supreme Leader of the Regime" was truly going to become engaged.
"Ash... As your family, I just want you to know that I want what's best for you." Katie looked at him, her blue eyes fixed on him.
He knew she was only trying to make him feel better, but he didn't know if he could really trust her anymore.
She was his sister, but she was also the same person who had turned her back on him.
Who sided with Multi... All because of one stupid egg.
"Multi is someone I trust, I know what he's really like... And I'm happy you're with him now, now we'll finally be a family!" But... He already was her family, Wasn't he?
Or maybe she had never thought he deserved that place, maybe he had imagined all of it.
The affection, Those days they spent together.
"Katie. The ceremony is about to begin. You'll be delivering the rings. Go with Ewroon." The voice that haunted his dreams interrupted the moment.
A voice devoid of emotion, always robotic.
His sister looked at him one last time, Her eyes said more than a thousand words, she clearly hoped he would go through with this.
And he would.
The sound of the door echoed through the room, followed by that suffocating silence.
"You've always obeyed us, A. I hope this time will be no different."
Of course...
"Everyone is here, Ewroon is ready to begin the ceremony... And Multi is waiting for you,"
"Don't disappoint us." Cucurucho left the room, disappearing from his sight as though he had never been there at all.
A knock came at the door once again, he was tired of this endless cycle. "Ash, we need to head to the church."
Don called out to him, the only person who still cared, the first one to ask if he was truly sure, the person who would have risked his own life just to see him happy.
"I'm coming." For one last time, he looked at his reflection.
Part of his face barely visible beneath the erratic glitches that still tried to conceal the eye that revealed nothing but exhaustion... And fear.
They tried to hide his weakness, but they couldn't.
All that was left was to accept, just as he had always done.
He walked toward the door, opened it.
Greeting Don, who could only look back at him with sorrow, Don simply took his hand.
Purple particles surrounded them, and a wave of dizziness followed.
The scenery changed instantly, a soft melody filled the air, with the birds singing together in harmony.
Don began walking, Ash silently followed.
Beside them, Nacho carried a basket of flowers, scattering petals across the aisle with every step.
The piano grew softer, gentler.. It was announcing his arrival.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Their gazes filled with pity, Happiness, Confusion.
It was overwhelming...
But his eyes searched for only one person... The man standing behind the altar.
Wearing loose-fitting white robes embroidered with a cross, his green eyes searching for Ash's own.
◞◟ 𓎟𓎟 ✦ 𓎟𓎟 ◞◟
From the moment he saw him walk in, he knew he had lost him, the white suit, a veil concealing his face, his hair neatly braided and adorned with white flowers.
This wasn't how it was supposed to be... Why was Ash willing to go through with this? Why wasn't it him...?
He was supposed to be standing at the altar, watching Ash as the groom, not as the officiant.
When they finally stood close enough, his eyes met Ash's... Empty, exhausted, He didn't want this either.
He could feel it, but there was no other choice.
He had to continue.
He had to force himself to finish the ceremony, burying the feelings that were slowly devouring his heart.
"Today, we are gathered here to witness the union of Ashswag and YoungMulti." His voice faltered the moment he spoke that name, a name that had always sounded so much better whenever he said it.
"We are all here today to bear witness to the creation of a new family through the union of The Polski Cave and The Regimen." His lips trembled as his eyes scanned every word written in the book before him.
The words that would decide everything were right there... Waiting to be spoken.
There was nothing he could do to stop this, With hesitation, he raised his gaze.
His eyes met Multi's, which held nothing but twisted satisfaction.
"Young Multi, do you accept Ashswag as your partner? To have and to protect, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, until death do you part?"
"I do."
His green eyes shifted toward the familiar amethyst ones, they were hollow, lifeless.
He had never seen Ash look so... Dead.
"Ashswag, do you accept Young Multi as your lawfully wedded partner? To have and to protect, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, until death do you part?"
"...I do."
He had to let him go, but it hurt.
His life had become intertwined with Ash's, their souls fit together so naturally.
Like the final pieces of a completed puzzle. They were meant to be together.
They belonged together, Yet now... None of that mattered anymore.
It didn't matter how many times he swore his devotion to Ash, how many times he risked his own life just to see him.
It didn't matter if tomorrow he woke up dead, Ash already belonged to someone else.
He wanted to be happy, because Ash's happiness was supposed to be his own.
But he wasn't... He felt betrayed, wounded.
He had to endure it.
He had to bury the pain screaming inside him, urging him to take Ash away, to prove that he was worth more than Multi could ever be.
He forced a smile, giving Katie a small nod so she would bring the rings.
She obeyed immediately, walking over to her brother.
He was too distracted to hear whatever she was saying, all he could think about was the emptiness consuming him.
He watched them exchange rings, their vows were spoken... Yet he couldn't hear a single word.
Only the pounding of his own heartbeat, the gentle singing of birds outside the church and that faint sound of static.
The ceremony had to continue, every gaze remained fixed on them, waiting for those final words that would mark a new beginning.
"By the authority vested in me... I now pronounce you lifelong partners,"
"You may kiss the groom..." A knot formed in his throat.
His eyes lowered, focusing on the book and the floral arrangement resting beside it, he could hear was the celebration erupting around them.
Fireworks burst across the sky, lighting up the cloudy afternoon.
This was the beginning of Ash's new life.
And the end of his own.
His heartbeat became frantic.
Shivers ran through his body as countless thoughts flooded his mind, leaving him feeling emptier with every passing second.
His chest ached, his eyes burned.
He didn't want to cry, yet it felt like tears were the only thing capable of freeing him from the pain that was slowly killing him.
He didn't wait for anyone else, he immediately pulled out his Waystone and teleported to the only place that had ever made him feel safe.
The scent of lavender welcomed him instantly, an endless sea of purple flowers stretched before him.
His tired legs carried him toward the place where his pets rested—but he never made it, his knees gave out beneath him.
He collapsed among the flowers that reminded him so much of the one he loved, of the one he could never have.
His tail wrapped gently around him—Cradling him, he hugged himself.
Because no one else would, he was alone in this world.
A cruel world that seemed determined to watch him suffer... He had to forget him.
Forget every moment they had shared, the countless nights aboard ships, with nothing but the endless sea bearing witness to their meetings.
To the trust they had built, to the affection they had exchanged.
All of that... Only for them to end up as strangers.
He would have to forget the Leader of the Regime, the man who had once asked him to kill everyone alongside him, the man who had called him... His Blade.
◞◟ 𓎟𓎟 ✦ 𓎟𓎟 ◞◟
Ash would have to forget the first person he had ever chosen for himself.
Not because of his programming, but because of what he truly felt.
He would have to forget the person who put his own life on the line just so Ash could see his daughter one last time.
The person who devoted his life to him.
.. His assassin.
Neither of them belonged to the other anymore.
Their souls had been forced apart.
From the very beginning, their future had always been uncertain, they both knew what they shared could become a threat.
And yet... They remained devoted to one another.
Until that very devotion made them realize they were only destroying each other.
They were each other's weakness, each other's stability.
They had become dependent on one another and that should have never happened.
Having a weakness felt like leaving your heart exposed.
Everyone could see it, anyone could stab it.
Their first mistake had been believing they still had time.
Believing that perhaps fate was on their side, but the future is always unknown.
You never know what tomorrow will bring, you don't know if the Federation will throw you into a prison.
If tomorrow you'll be infected with radiation, If someone will tell you your days are numbered.
If your heart will be torn from your chest, If your blood will stain the ground... Or if you'll be bound to your enemy for the rest of your life.
All that's left is to let go, the hardest part of every journey.
To erase the laughter they once shared, the moments they gave each other warmth,
Their victories, their defeats.
In the end...Nothing would remain of him.
Of Ash.
Of either of them.
Nothing.
Ewroon whispers to you: I hope you're happy. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you... I'm sorry I couldn't save you when he took you away from me. I only wish for you to live a happy life, Ash.
Ewroon whispers to you: I don't know if I'll ever see you again. I don't know if you'll even remember me anymore. That's why I'm writing this today... I never imagined I'd tell someone I'd dedicate my life to them.
Ewroon whispers to you: Or that I'd kill for them. But I did it for you. I tried to prove what I was worth, that I was willing to give up everything if it meant being with you... But I killed your daughter. It was one of my many mistakes.
Ewroon whispers to you: I brought her back, but all she did was insult you. I'll never forgive her for that. She threatened you. She took your heart... Yet even then, you told me the only thing that truly mattered was me. My life.
Ewroon whispers to you: But my life has no meaning if you aren't in it. I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for putting you through this hell and giving you false hope. Now all that's left is to forget all of this. Forget what we had only a few days ago... and begin a new life.
Ewroon whispers to you: But if you're willing to run away from this island with me... you know where to find me... My one and only Assassin.
Tears rolled down his cheeks, falling onto the communicator he held tightly in his hands.
He wanted to answer, he wanted to leave this place.
But that was nothing more than another dream... The dream of a child who still believed freedom existed.
No matter where he went... They would find him.
And he couldn't risk losing Ewroon.
Even so... He wanted to say goodbye before it was too late for both of them.
He wanted to see him one last time.
To tell him that no matter what happened... He would always remember him.
He wanted to be there.
Just.. One last time.
But everyone was watching him, countless eyes were fixed upon him, never allowing him to leave his "special day."
This was only the beginning of his torment, there had never been a happy ending waiting for him.
He quietly turned off the communicator.
Forced a smile.
If he went to Ewroon... They would hurt him, and Ash couldn't bear the thought of seeing his blade broken.
◞◟ 𓎟𓎟 ✦ 𓎟𓎟 ◞◟
For one last time, Ewroon looked down at the communicator.
No reply ever came.
On that cold yet beautiful night... He was alone.
Beside him rested that heart, a brilliant shade of blue, captivating anyone who laid eyes upon it with its intense glow.
Ash's emotions had always fascinated him.
He had always believed,
And still believed... That Ash was more human than he was, more human than anyone else.
And that heart had only proven him right.
So, for the last time...
He admired that precious piece beneath the dark night sky, beneath the moon that illuminated him, beneath the stars that shone brighter than ever.
Ashswagg whispers to you: I'm sorry.
Ashswagg whispers to you: I can't forget you.
That was all he needed to hear to know what he had to do. He could never forget Ash, no matter how hard he tried.
So he chose to rest.
Hoping... That someday... Ash would finally be able to forget him.
<Ewroon> I hope you're happy. I want to see you smile, even if it's only from afar.
Ewroon died due to unknown causes.