Rocky Road ~ House of Diyem, Eien, Mellow, and Toast

[Namohysip]

"I didn't get it for a while, either," Owen said. "But it's a term that equates your 'heart' with your emotions and feelings. So, sharing your feelings with one another." Owen rubbed his chin, thoughtful. "I think it came from an old, old belief that the mind was actually in your heart. Which, uh, isn't true, but the saying stuck."

 

[Ambyssin]

"My brain prism is both my mind and the closest thing I have to a heart," Bahamut said, completely straight-faced. "Was it coined by an ancient order of necrozma?"

It was difficult to say whether Bahamut was being serious.

 

[Namohysip]

"Possibly..." Owen hummed. "Then again, this is all probably being translated. Maybe that's something from Diyem's world that we just hear about universally..."

Diyem waved them off. "If you're done checking on me, and you're satisfied, I was in the middle of an afternoon nap."

 

[Ambyssin]

"Huh, what a coincidence. So was I."

Bahamut's light and eyes abruptly deemed. He seemed to have fallen asleep on the spot.

 

[Namohysip]

"...Wish I could fall asleep that easily..." Owen crossed his arms.

"...Just... move him near the garden," Diyem muttered, gesturing toward the left. "Where's his Ultra Shade, anyway? Perhaps that one should tend to him."

 

[Ambyssin]

“It’s sunbathing at the beach.”

Despite still looking to be asleep, Bahamut slithered out the door. The sounds of trampled flowers followed.

 

[Namohysip]

Diyem sighed. "I'll fix it later..."

<><><>​

 

[IFBench]

Saltriv ran towards Diyem's house as fast as they could. He could help, right? He had to. This couldn't be the end for Dill! It just couldn't!

 

[Sudmensch]

Dill followed, his heart racing. A flurry of emotions stirred in his gut as he tried his best to focus on if Diyem would say he could be saved.

 

[Namohysip]

Diyem's home loomed in front of them like usual, its typical shadowy aura seeping through the cracks. By now, though, it had been a routine to meet up with their technically evil overlord.

There was a growl from within and the door opened, the shadow Charizard staring them down. "What do you want."

 

[IFBench]

"We need help," Saltriv said, barely flinching anymore from seeing the Dark Matter. "When we go back to our worlds...if nothing changes, Dill is going to die again."

 

[Sudmensch]

Dill nodded hurriedly.

"I died before I came here. If I go back, I just go to distortion."

 

[Namohysip]

"And?" Diyem said, frowning. "People die. That's how life works." He crossed his arms, thoughtful. "I'm pretty sure I only acquired living spirits. What is this distortion? Dungeon capture? I've heard of worlds that do that. They all get freed eventually. That's how such worlds operate." He decided not to mention that 'eventually' can sometimes be a very long time, and there seemed to be something puzzling around in his head despite his words.

 

[Sudmensch]

"No, nono, i-it's... agh, it's like the Voidlands, but you never leave! I-I can't go there, not now! I-I don't...!"

Dill tried his best to take deep breaths to calm down.

 

[IFBench]

"But Dill says that he died just before he came here!" Saltriv protested, laying a vine on Dill.

 

[Namohysip]

"Hmph. Never." Diyem shook his head. "The Overseers would have a field day with such realities. You'll be freed. That's their specialty. I, personally, would know." He turned around, about to march away, before he bumped into Eien's carapace.

"What's the problem, dear?" Eien asked.

Diyem sighed. No escape now.

 

[Sudmensch]

"No, y-you don't under... stand..."

The Feraligatr crumpled.

 

[IFBench]

Saltirv's expression fell. Was there really no hope? Was this really the end for their friend?

They walked over to Dill, and hugged him as tight as they could, tears welling up in their eyes.

 

[Sudmensch]

With nothing left to say, Dill just hugged back, a quiet sob escaping his maw.

 

[Namohysip]

Diyem made a low growl, thoughtful, as he glanced at them. "I do understand," he growled. "I created distortion myself. I am a Dungeon maker. I am a Voice of Darkness. This is part of the process of such worlds. And I cannot interfere with such things." He unfurled one wing, revealing a curtain of darkness where his membrane should have been. Little spirits flitted about in his wings like golden wisps of light.

"...But, Diyem, even if such places are eventually freed, it's still quite a time in there," Eien said. "If this is really true, isn't there anything you can do...? After all, you have their spirits now..."

"Mmgh..." Diyem looked off. "I don't have the authority for it."