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“Slushly! Slushly do it now!” Nufuli had screamed. Had screamed the words to Slushly almost pleadingly. Like he wanted to be gone like Nufuli had wanted to be dead.
Slushy had hesitated, and stopped and reconsidered because it was his only friend. Nufuli was all he had left. It was the last thing he had. Nufuli had given him everything in just a single day and now like the events had never happened, almost like his imagination had gone wild once again Nufuli was gone.
Slushy lay there, pain radiating through his body. A burning sensation echoing along his body almost like he was on the cusp of dying. His eyes resting on the fallen Nufuli in front of him, his body lay there half collapsed against the throne of vanguard three. Nufuli’s chest wasn’t rising so Slushly knew Nufuli was gone.
“Did you really- really think you of all people would be able to kill me? With that little hero mindset of yours?” Rat’s voice was shaky, like she couldn’t hide the pain in her voice either.
Slushy turned over pained gasps leaving him, he tried to stand but a boot to his chest made him wheeze. His eyes watered as he coughed and stared up at Rat’s eyes. If the other hadn’t done what she had done Slushly would almost think they were innocent. She didn’t look like the cold hearted killer he knew she was.
Rat moved, grabbing a health potion and bringing it to Slushly’s face forcing him to down the potion. His hands shook as he tried to push her off but his body was too weak to fight. His body felt a wave of relief at the feeling and he coughed as she forced him up.
“You killed Nufuli.” The words were random, honestly unexpected and something Slushly didn’t want to acknowledge the word she spoke. He hadn’t done it because he wanted too- he did it because Nufuli had asked. Because the other wanted to be dead. And- and who was Slushly to try and convince the other to live. Slushly blinked staring at the command block Rat held his head tilting in confusion and she held it up.
“Do you want to know what this does? I feel like you could figure it out yourself after all you really want it. Galaxy lied to you about it too, didn’t he..?” Rat giggled, her eyes playful as she raised a brow at Slushly
Slushly stiffened his eyes widening. Revival? Could.. Could he get Aspen back? No. No- he.. Nufuli had made a point that she may not want a revival. Like HD didn’t want it there was no guarantee Aspen would want it. But.. but the small bit of hope at the idea of seeing her and apolgizing was too big.
“Ah.. so you know what it is now don’t you? I can revivve her right now, she was a really good listener. I didn’t mind her after all. Rather useful.” Rat hummed, bringing a hand to her chin as if debating the pros of using Aspen
That’s all vanguard did after all, they just used people as much as they could and once they weren’t useful they through them away like trash.
“Please.. I- I just want to see her again.” Slushly’s voice quivered. His voice tinged with hope. With the small bit of hope that.. That he could see her again. That they could go back home, and pretend that vanguard wasn’t a problem, that they were safe..
Rat lifted the command block and a burst of light flashed. Slushly had half a mind to reach for a totem not there but.. Surprisingly there was no pain that rang through him. If anything it was a kind of warmth. Almost like a warm hug wrapping around him.
“What?” the voice made Slushly relax his eyes flashing with relief and he moved forward. His arms wrapped tightly around her, his body trembling as he breathed in.
“Aspen..” Slushly’s voice broke as he hugged her. “I’m sorry- I love you so much- i really-”
“Now now now. I revived her but I didn’t say you could keeper he Slushly.” Rat said, her voice light
It was like those few seconds of warmth was gone and he stared down where Aspen had just been. Right in front of him. She had been… she was- she was right in front of him.
Slushly couldn’t say anything staring at the body again. Her eyes were dulled again, it was almost like he was back in that room. Back with Stormz in that room. Her body was facing away from him but he knew she was dead. It was this close- it was this EXACT room it had happened. A wave of disgusting deja vu hit him. His mouth opened in shock, his heart beating loudly in his ears.
“Come on Slushly? Did you really think I was going to let you keep her? THIS is what happens when you think you have to save people. You kill the people closest to you. You wanted her bacl, you got her back and for what?” Rats voice was gleeful, almost giddy as she stared at Slushly over Aspen's body. The living one crouched in front of her. Like- Like this was some sick twisted game
“She… I- she was here.” Slushly choked out, his hands shaking lightning sparking on his arms. His eyes clouded with tears. He had her. And just like that he was too useless to try and move. To try and just get out with her while he had the chance.
“Now where are we at Slushly. Do you want to see her again? Do you want to cling to that pathetic hope that she can come back and you guys live happily ever after? This isn’t some sort of FAIRYTALE HERO!” Rat snapped, her voice ringing through the room. Pure anger and an almost confusion that reminded him far too much of Pootoot.
“I- she was here.” Slushly repeated numbly, shock settling into his body.
“And now she’s not. Just a snap of my fingers Slushly. Just one single command and I can revive her again. And again. And again to just kill her. Over. and over. And over again. And what can you do about Slushly? What could you do against that? Tell me hero.” Rat said, moving forward and grabbing Slushly’s collar on his shirt and shoving him against the wall.
“I-” Slushly shifted almost.. In fear. He was scared. He was scared because deep down he knew he couldn’t do anything nothing that was in his capabilities could he do to stop Rat. To stop Vanguard.
Was it really worth it? To stop Vanguard? He had lost everything. He.. he had nothing left. He had lost Train, Aspen, Nufuli, and Wyll. He didn’t have anyone.
Rat dropped Slushly, watching him curl into himself and she giggled. Amusement flickering in her eyes. That’s what it was to her. His suffering brought her glee.
Rat lifted her hand and code flew in the air and Nufuli practicaly jolted awake. Slushly gaped, his eyes wide. Rat- Rat was going to kill Nufuli he needed to move needed to get to him. Slushly was.. He was too tired to move his body an almost feeling of emptiness clouding him.
“The gang is all back together. Nufuli alive and well! Slushly broken and beat like every single hero to exist. You both.. Back at square one.” Rat laughed, her hands moving to her face to cover her laughs.
Nufuli’s eyes looked haunted, like he had experience hell in the few minutes he was dead. Like being back hear made him more scared. Slushly couldn’t blame him. Not anymore.
“Nufuli. I missed you. There are two ways this can go okay?” Rat said moving and crouching beside Nufuli her eyes soft. “We can go back to being friends, you can join me in vanguard. Or I can take my sword and kill you. Again and Again. Make you’re friend Slushly watch until you finally agree.”
Nufuli looked horrified, his eyes meeting Slushly’s equally horrified and broken gaze.
“I.. I don’t like vanguard Rat- I don’t like what you’ve become-” Nufuli couldn’t finish a scream leaving him as a blade cut his shoulder.
“Nufuli..” Rat said, voice low. Slushly let out a noise of fear hands shaking. He couldn’t move. Why couldn’t he move? Why was he so useless? He just wanted to help him?! Why couldn’t-
“Okay! Okay! I’ll join vanguard- I’ll do it- Rat please-” Nufuli said, his voice panicked.
Slushly didn’t blame him but it didn’t the wave of shame that filled him vanish. His eyes moving back to Aspens body, and almost like a lever had been pulled he was on his knees beside her. He gripped her tightly pulling her into his chest and began to cry. They were small almost barely audible before they turned into loud ugly sobs. Aspen wasn’t warm anymore, she was cold limp in his arms as he hugged her.
“This is how it’s meant to be. How storys are meant to end. What the happy endings don’t give you.” Rat giggled her eyes bright
Nufuli sat there, fear and exhaustion clear in his gaze. Slushly curled up as loud sobs echoed through the room. With that Rats laughed echoed around the room barely head with Slushly’s cries.
“This! This is how you end a story hero. Broken and pushed aside and honestly a betrayal you wouldn’t have imagined!"
Rat continued to laugh her hands shaking with pure glee. Nufuli sat leaned against the throne with a tired expression a look of regret in his eyes. Nufuli wasn’t moving though. This was what he had chosen. Slushly sat there hugging Aspen broken noises leaving him, his body half cradling her as the cries continued.
He loves her, and now she was gone. With a snap of one person's fingers and everything he had hoped to have again was gone.
Slushly was faced with the truth yet again. Slushly had lovED her. And now she was gone. Just like everyone else.
He could never get a happy ending with her.