Atop the Crimson Spire, Sunny and Nephis clashed. But this time, Nephis wasn't holding back.
*************
"Arghh..."
Sunny was laying on the red coral of the spire, beaten and battered, looking at his opponent. Nephis. They glanced at each other's battered states, seemingly equally matched with each other.
Seemingly.
Nephis had one last trump card she didn't wish to use, one last weapon in case of emergency.
She stood up, walking towards the gate, but Sunny rose, raising his sword at her, rushing to attack her.
"Stop, Lost from Light."
Sunny froze.
"How.... How?!?!? How did you know?!"
Sunny shouted. Shocked. Surprised...
Betrayed.
He felt something in his being become fulfilled, something awakening... he immediately knew what it is.
His bond.
His enslavement.
"Cassie told me. She was the first one to understand the meaning of her vision. Shadows swallowing an angel.... she immediately knew what it is. So she had to choose. Me, or you. So she chose me."
Sunny was bewildered.
'So that's why she gave me the Endless Spring...'
It wasn't out of kindness... bout out of guilt. She was planning this from the beginning. That's why she was avoiding him most of the time...
He cursed mentally.
He shouldn't have trusted anyone other than himself... He shouldn't have become too friendly. He knew it was his fault.
"I'm sorry, Sunny. I have to do it. I have to go back. To achieve my goals. I need to do this, Sunny. I hope you understand. I have no doubt you will come back to us... to me. That's why i have to do this. I have to survive."
Sunny laughed.
"Stop with this bullshit, Nephis. Just say it already!! Say it!! You didn't care about me! You're a selfish bitch! How naive I was... just wait, Nephis. And don't you worry, I will survive. I will triumph. You think this hell could end me?! Oh, no. But I will survive. Not to come back to you. But for revenge. I will kill you and Cassie, but not immediately. I will make sure both of you suffer. To feel torment. I will make you suffer, mark my words. Etch this into your very being. Oh, and say hello to Cassie for me."
Nephis stopped, a chill in her spine. She felt something gnawing at her, something so bad she wanted to fall and cry. She felt guilty. She didn't want to leave Sunny alone... but she had to. For her goals. For her clan. For the world.
For her.
"I knew you wouldn't understand... I'm sorry Sunny-"
Sunny cut her off.
"It's Sunless. Never call me Sunny again."
Nephis shivered. She hated herself for this... yet she continued.
"I'm sorry, Sunless. I will break the chains of our bond to free you. I will embrace you when you eventually escape this hell. Please survive, Sunless."
She went through the gateway, awakening at last. Leaving Sunny alone in this hell.
Sunny stumbled, but not for long, as a rock fell down on him.
'Damnation!'
Quickly summoning Dark Wing and Prowling Thorn, he went out of a nearby window gliding to the ground. He took shelter in a dimly lit cave, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.
He was alone in this forsaken hell. With no one to lean on...
Not that he would ever trust anyone again.
He hated Nephis for what she did... and Cassie more.
But worst of all, he hated himself.
It was his fault. He should've known. He always lived alone, as a treacherous cockroach doing nothing but ensuring his wellbeing. He never relied on anyone else. Why would he change that? He was always disgusted at the fact that people trusted others. He didn't understand it. Why would you risk yourself for others? It was stupid.
Yet, he still did it.
He was alone and forsaken. Betrayed in this godforsaken shore. Cast into a realm where no soul was meant to endure alone... Yet he will. For one reason.
To spite them all.
To spite Fate.
He was carved into a threnody... condemned to sing a shadow's lament.
*********
In an underground room, there stood a pod. A girl was stirring in her sleep, with silver hair reflecting the sunlight and a pale face. She woke up, opened the pod, and put on a pair of pants and a coat. She made her way to the door, only to find a worker bursting in.
"Slee- Awakened Nephis!! You've awoken!! Please follo-"
She was interrupted.
"Could you take me somewhere?"
She looked confused.
"But, Lady Nephis, we need to get you interviewed and tell us about wha-"
Nephis stared at her blankly. Her face as stalwart as ever, she beckoned the worker to the door.
"Okay, I can do that. Where to?"
She said.
"Sleeper Sunless."
Nephis was led down the hall into a room where a lone pod was situated in the middle, a fragile and blind girl already staring at the man sleeping within.
Nephis immediately knew who she was.
Cassie.
"Hey, Cas...."
Cassie turned her head to the voice, staring at Nephis with a saddened expression.
"So it worked... you've returned."
She said with a bittersweet tone.
"Yeah, I guess I have. But at what cost? Sunny was sad. But also.... angry. Vengeful.
Spiteful."
Cassie was trying her best to hold her tears in, having betrayed one of her only friends....
"He said he was going to survive. But not to come back to us... he was betrayed, Cassie. The look in his eyes was.... scary. Lonely. He told me to tell you hi, Cassie..."
At the last sentence, Cassie finally broke. She began sobbing, falling to the ground. Nephis hurried to her side, embracing her. They both silently wept in the underground hospital of the Academy. Feeling guilty for what they've done... shameful.
**********
Thanks for reading the first chapter of my fanfic! For Sunny's Second Nightmare, I was wondering if you guys wanted it to be the same as the original story, or if I should create a new Nightmare and put a few chapters focusing on it. It's either the usual Second Nightmare without chapters in it, or a new Second Nightmare that will occupy a bit of the chapters. The first choice I have stuff planned for it, but the second I'll have to create something creative. Let me know in the comments