Chapter Text
PART I
Adjusting my headset, I watch helplessly as the timer slowly ticks down, the end of the VR game, YGGDRASIL, approaching quicker than I’d like. My character is sitting in the library, alone. I wanted to bring some NPCs with me, but that would have caught the attention of Momonga, the only other Ainz Ooal Gown clan member online with me. I didn’t really feel like saying goodbye, so I avoided him. I tilt my head back, gazing up at the cavernous ceiling of the library through the holes in my plague doctor mask, listening to some undead librarians shuffling around, organising and re-organising books.
I miss them, the members of our clan, all of them. I haven’t seen most of them in months, some in years. They were all like family to me, and they all considered me their little sibling. Ulbert, the one who gave me the mask, logged off for the last time weeks ago. I feel slightly guilty. I knew so much about every one of them, yet I never even shared my gender with them, just my in-game race. None but Ulbert and Takemikazuchi had even seen under my character’s mask. I guess that’s because I felt that I accidentally made my character resemble me too much. Even just the basic brown hair and blue eyes felt too close for comfort.
My gaze drifts back to the clock: a little over an hour left. I yawn. Usually, my self-imposed bedtime is earlier, but I wanted to stay up tonight to see all of the NPCs one last time before they were gone forever, along with the game. One of them, Cocytus, Takemikazuchi had created with me in mind. Though he never let me see the code, I helped with design ideas, and even after he quit the game, Cocytus kept me company. Though he’s just an NPC, the care that Takemikazuchi put into him was evident.
A thought pops into my head, and I open a control panel, looking for Cocytus. I select him and begin to read over his code, everything mostly gibberish, or little personality details. But then something near the bottom catches my eye. ‘Madly in love and sworn to protect and serve Jade (Moon) for all of their life’. A dry chuckle escapes me; the feeling is bittersweet. I knew that Takemikazuchi liked me, and I liked him, but we never got the chance to be together, mainly because neither of us wanted a relationship that was only through a video game. He was also the only one who actually knew my irl gender and name, Jade.
I glance up at the clock again as I close the control panel. Only an hour left now, and my eyes are starting to get heavy. I should say goodbye to Momonga; he deserves that much. I think to myself, but I never get the chance to, as I slip into a dreamless sleep. My inky black trench coat envelops my character’s small form as I am sprawled out on a chair in the library.
A while later, I begin to stir. I blink slowly, feeling dishevelled, and I reach up to rub my eyes, but my plague doctor mask is in the way. I freeze, my fingers tracing along the edges of my mask. What happened to my VR headset? I think to myself, before beginning to hyperventilate. I look around, still in the library, just more… real. I stand up abruptly, the librarian ghouls glancing over at me briefly before continuing their work. That’s never happened before. I feel the rest of my body. My oversized trench coat hides my small figure underneath, and I tilt the plague doctor mask up slightly so that I can look down better. I’m my character. This is real. A small whimper of fear escapes me before I dart to the library door. I can’t access a control panel or anything. I run down the hallway, my slightly heeled boots making a satisfying clomping sound, though I barely notice. I need to find Momonga. As I run, I curse myself for not knowing the layout of the great tomb of Nazarick, the place where our clan lives, better. I eventually get lost, finding myself in unfamiliar territory.
Ainz (Momonga):
Things have gotten into a rhythm. I’ve stepped into the position of the ruler the NPCs think I am, and I’m making plans for the future, but one thing gnaws at me. Them. Moon, as they’re known. I saw them online as the clock ticked on, counting down to what was supposed to be the last day of YGGDRASIL, a game I’ve played for as long as I can remember, but now I’m stuck in it. Possibly along with Moon.
[A couple of days after ‘the thing’ happened, Ainz is hosting a meeting in the throne room to discuss the future of Nazarick.]
As the meeting begins, I notice that Cocytus is absent.
“Does anyone know where Cocytus is?” I ask, my voice booming, and some of the NPCs glance around worriedly.
“Shall I find him and punish him, Lord Ainz?” Albedo asks eagerly, gazing up at me with respect and adoration, and an uncomfortable hint of lust.
“No, I just need to know where he is,” I say, looking away and waving a hand dismissively. Then, Demiurge speaks up.
“I was walking with him when he suddenly said something about ‘sworn duty’ and ‘Love’ and ‘the possibility of his own heir’ before running off.” I choke slightly. Cocytus had always talked about me having an heir for him to serve, but could that really be what Cocytus’s absence was about? That still doesn’t answer the question about his whereabouts.
“Interesting, well, it must be important for him not to be here right now; he’ll have to answer for himself when he comes back. For now, let’s move on…”
Jade (Moon):
I don’t know how long it’s been. I never did have a good internal clock, but the silence has grown comfortable, and I wander through the halls, exploring places that I didn’t even know existed. My mind drifts to Cocytus. I miss him. Then, I feel something, like a soft ringing in the back of my mind, causing me to press two fingers to my temple through the mask. I hear a faint voice, and I call out.
“H-hello? Is anyone there?” And the voice stops abruptly. Moments later, I hear it again, clearly, and it's obvious that it is just in my mind, as I am still alone.
“Jade? Where are you? Are you okay?” The voice asks quickly, slightly laboured, as though running.
“Yeah, I’m fine, just a little lost somewhere on the 9th floor. Who is this?” I ask, confused. I hear an exhale of relief.
“It’s Cocytus.” The voice says, calmer, his baritone more prominent. “I’ll find you; stay put.” And just like that, the voice is quiet. A little while later, I hear a noise and turn and see Cocytus walking towards me, kneeling once he reaches me. Even kneeling, he’s still slightly taller than me, upright, standing at a whopping eight feet.
“I’m sorry it took me so long, my dear Moon.” He says, gently, respectfully, his tone calm, though joy is evident in it.
“Is Momonga… here?” I ask softly, stepping closer, placing my hand on his shoulder, still wondering if this is truly real. His shoulder is cold, but not uncomfortably so.
“I can take you to him if that is what you wish, my Lady.” Cocytus replies, still kneeling. His head tilts slightly to look at where my hand rests on his armoured shoulder.
“Yes, please, that would be great.” I say tiredly, letting my hand fall away, returning to rest at my side. He looks like he wants to argue since he notices my tired appearance, but he doesn’t; instead, he just stands up quietly and picks me up, cradling me. “What are you doing?” I squeak, blushing deeply, though not protesting.
“Would you rather I set you down?” Cocytus asks, though he doesn’t, seemingly already knowing the answer. And I shake my head, embarrassed, my plague doctor mask thankfully hiding my flushed face. Cocytus, carrying me, teleports to the 10th floor, heading to the throne room.
Ainz (Momonga):
About halfway through the meeting, the throne room doors open, and Cocytus steps in, seemingly carrying a large bird. As he gets closer, a silence settles over the room, the only sound being Cocytus’s claws on the floor since everyone now realises what Cocytus is carrying. Moon.
Jade (Moon):
I relax in Cocytus’s four arms, comfortable, letting my eyes drift closed. I only open my eyes again when Cocytus removes one arm from me to open the throne room door. I gaze around, noticing what seems to be a meeting going on, coming to an abrupt halt when Cocytus walks closer. Momonga, now Ainz, stands up from the throne, and I whisper to Cocytus to set me down, and he does, gently, his lower hands lingering on my waist before I run to Ainz, hugging him. Ainz orders everyone to go back to their duties before teleporting us to his suite.
“How did this happen? Are the others here too? What now, Momonga?” I ask, gazing up at Ainz worriedly, but he just pats my head, relaxing, letting his act slip.
“We are going to find the others, Moon.” He mumbles quietly, gazing off into the distance. He then gazes back down at me, seemingly thinking of something, a soft chuckle escaping him.
“You know, before he left to get you, Cocytus said something about ‘Love’ and ‘the possibility of him having an heir’. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?” Ainz asks, slightly teasingly, with a hint of the old him coming back. I blush deeply.
“He said what?!” I squeak, flustered.