CORAL

[dramatispersonae]

You're standing together on what seems to be the main street of a small village, paved with cobblestones, with low buildings standing silent on either side. If you look in any of them, you'll find them dark and empty.

In contrast to the Ring, it's rather chilly. The sky is slate-grey, and it seems like there's snow falling, blanketing you and the village in pure white. On closer inspection, the snow turns out to be ash – but the bleaching is literal. Even when you brush it off, your skin, your hair, your clothes, and your keys remain ash-coloured.

A single, feeble light flickers further down the street.

Comments

Re: room

[fierte]

[taking a very deep breath, hugging back ._.]

I, I know, but ... a-at this point, everyone else has done something, and I ... I'm already sad, so--!

Re: room

[digitalemperor]

That doesn't mean you have to. What I was saying to Dragonfly, that wasn't... We don't ever force people to take on something, you know that. We... Protect anyone on the team who wants it. So you don't have to do anything you don't feel like, okay?

[Please don't hurt your heart like this.]

Re: room

[fierte]

I would have already--!

[faltering, taking a deep breath]

I don't ... I don't want anyone else to be sad too. D-Dragonfly has his brother, and when Kit and C-Canary and everyone else see they ... they'll just think that I'm being silly again, s-so ... it's all right.

S-so ... if it's all right, can I cry ... ?

Re: room

[digitalemperor]

You can cry. You can scream. You can be as upset as you like. We'll be right here. We'll never leave you, no matter how you feel. We won't leave you.

Re: room

[fierte]

Then ... I really really don't mind.

Re: room

[digitalemperor]

I mind. I mind a lot. You can reconsider.

[Petting her hair.]

I won't stop you, but I don't want you to.

Re: room

[fierte]

[sniffling a little, but lifting her chin]

I, I didn't want any of us to do any of this! I-I didn't want you to be mad, or for Mr. Spitfire to burn himself, o-or for Dragonfly to ...

[wobbling a little, but going on]

S, so! If, if that's the case, then ... y-you can be angry at me too, but I-I'm not going to let you stop me.

Re: room

[digitalemperor]

I'm not angry at you. I think... I'm really-- [Stupid fucking heart game. Can't express himself.]

I am. I am really proud of you. I think you are incredibly brave. So I'm not going to take that from you. But don't... Think you're alone. We're right here.

Re: room

[fierte]

[a very, very tiny smile]

Um, then ... if, if you could say that again afterwards, I ... I think that would be very nice.

Re: room

[digitalemperor]

I will. I'll remind you.

Re: room

[fierte]

All right, then ...

[REACHING FOR THE SWORD]

Re: room

[dramatispersonae]

oh god the worst feel

The sword vanishes. Another match appears, and this time the little girl is the one to pick it up and strike it. Her basket is now empty.

The back wall crumbles, revealing the open village gate beyond. The village is bright now, bustling. Another flame figure – an old woman – is coming up the road beyond it.

The girl takes off running, straight into the old woman's arms. They embrace, then both turn to you as the scene fades . . . you hear a faint, crackling 'thank you.'

And you find yourselves at endgame.