Chapter Text
CONNECTED
It has to be a dream.
But she never dreamt about ads and talking computers that want to make her into their peon and ‘robotise’ her face.
Not to mention Susie and Kris…
But still, it has to be a dream, right?
“K…Kris…? Isn't that the wrong way…?”
Noelle mutters nervously as she watches Kris march towards the wrong way, ignoring her concern and question. Somehow I'm already regretting this… A triple truce with Kris sounds like trouble after all, but seeing she has no other option, aside wandering aimlessly in this scary and strange dream world, she follows.
Immediately, a weird triangle creature jumps at them, pointed arrows littering its body. She jumps out of her place, “H-huh!? What's going on!?” The human next to her seemed unphased, pulling out a light red sword and getting into stance. “What are we doing!?” She questions, nearly shrieking.
Kris seemed to be intent on ignoring all her questions and being difficult, typical. Instead, the sword was transformed to shield its holder, and then, Kris finally talked to her.
“Ice Shock.”
She blinked in confusion. What brought up the magic spells for her game now?? She huffs in frustration and looks towards the enemy. Something in her tells her to hold out her hands and focus. Despite her hesitation, she does so. A cold sensation overtakes her hands for a mere second, her eyes close as she feels the cold leave her hand suddenly and abruptly.
When she opens her eyes again, the triangle creature has been encased in ice. She blinks in surprise. She doesn't even get a moment to process what happened before Kris started marching on again. “W-Wait! Kris!” She pushes her shock to the side for the moment to catch up.
Certainly, it was a dream. Magic doesn't exist! Case solved.
What wasn't solved is why Kris keeps insisting on sticking to the wrong path. But she follows, like always…
They face more enemies ahead, each one freakier looking than the last. Pop-up ads and miniature ambulances chase them and every time Noelle is sure she will wake up from this terrifying dream; She has a heart attack each time! What's strange is she feels calm whenever Kris tells her to use Ice Shock, like her body is slowly getting used to it.
They arrive at what looks like a dumpster area? She looks around curiously as she follows Kris, who stops at a door and knocks. No response came.
“Kris…? Wh-why did you bring me here…?”
She suspected her question would go unanswered, so she continued. “No one's home…No one's around at all.” She remarked, a sigh escaping her maw. “It's…It's so creepy…” This whole dream has been creepy. The enemies, the crazy laptops and…
At the same time…It's kind of nostalgic…
Surprisingly, it seemed Kris had finally listened to her; turning tail and walking back the way they came from. The run back was peaceful…Minus the frozen enemies, she preferred them frozen rather than attacking her or Kris, so…good riddance?
They finally made it back to where they were. The very next room after has buttons and labels on the wall, ‘in’ and ‘out’. When Kris stepped on a button, a mouse poked out of the ‘out’ hole. “A m-mouse!?” She tensed up, only for the mouse to actually be a train of mice.
“M-Mice!”
She shrieked as the mice seemed to bolt towards her, she jumped what felt like three feet into the air, landing in the beginning of the room. Luckily, the mice didn’t chase her, but grazed past her to the previous room.
She takes a sigh of relief before nervously smiling at Kris “S…Sorry, Kris, could you…D-deal with them somehow?” She fidgets with her fingers. “Maybe if you can get them in the other mouse hole?” Her fear of mice goes unexplained; Kris already knows this, surely her old childhood friend will understand-
Kris was leaving.
“H-hey, Kris? You can’t leave just yet, y’know!”
Noelle called out, growing more nervous. “You need to deal with the mice, first. You can do it, Kris! I believe in you!” She thought maybe with an encouragement would sweeten the deal, she knows it’s a ridiculous to stop their progression just because of her fear but-
Kris took another step.
“Kris, you, um… aren’t going to leave me here, are you?”
The face that turns back to face her is expressionless, she could barely see the red pupils behind dark blue bangs. “Th-think about all the p-pencils I gave you! The…” She bits her lip for a moment.
“The peppermint cookies I shared with you!”
The expression remains unchanged.
“I’ll do your homework for you.”
Another step.
“Kris? Are…you really going to leave me…?”
For the first time, the human’s body reacts, the bangs hide the red eyes completely. Kris’s lips part to say something.
“Proceed.”
“H-huh? what did you say? B-but th…the mice…”
“Proceed.”
“I…”
This was Kris’s way of saying to get over her own fear…Right? It…It is stupid to force them to do a puzzle when the exit is right there, unblocked. All she had to do is…Power through, step on the button and join Kris, right?
Holding her head and biting her lip again, she quickly runs towards the exit, stepping on the button and releasing the mice. Of course, they take the same path they took before. Relief overtakes her; Having imagined the mice would crawl up her dress as punishment or something.
We’d better not have to do something like that again…
She joins Kris’s side, who was watching nonchalantly. She huffs, Seriously, when did Kris get so bossy? Well…This is a dream, so… She tried to reason to herself, this version of Kris had to be weird to accompany all the other weird dream aspects so far.
They continue walking.
More enemies appeared, each one was left encased in the ice, and each time Noelle casted Ice Shock, the more confident she felt. This is just like an RPG game. She thought. She even noticed that past enemies that took two Ice Shocks to freeze, now took only one.
She was getting stronger.
The duo stumble upon an ad for a giant Ferris wheel that towered over the buildings. “Gosh, that’s amazing! Makes the one at the festival look like a toy, haha!” In the corner of her eyes, she could see Kris’s lip quiver upwards a bit.
“I…I wonder if Susie would want to…Gosh who am I kidding?”
“I will ride with you.”
Kris says without missing a beat, she turns towards them. “Oh, so you can shake it when we get to the top?” She grins. “Just like at the festival when we were kids? I Know there is a catch with you, Kris! NO thanks!” For a moment, she sees a frown before Kris speaks again.
“Noelle will ride with me.”
That had her taken aback a bit, accompanied with that frown on their face…“H-huh…? I mean… Sure…If..Um.. really want to! You can, um, make up for when we were kids!” She tries to tease. Since when did Kris get so…No way…It got to be some kind of prank!
A few steps away from the ad, a salesperson calls them. “Ohhon!! Two young beings together on a school night…Could I interest you in some brand new dating shoes…?” He smirked, looking back and forth between her and Kris.
What.
“H-huh…? No, no you’ve got it totally wrong!”
She is quick to begin explaining herself…For some reason. “Kris and I are just…umm…friends?” Somehow, it felt wrong to say that. Kris’s been my neighbor forever…We’ve been through so much, sometimes it feels like… Her eyes darted to Kris, she could see their red eyes better this time, they were looking at the salesperson with interest. Until they met her gaze, sharp and focused.
She looks away, her cheeks feeling a bit warm. We know each other better than anyone…yet, somehow, it’s hard to say we’re exactly friends? “We’re something else.” WHAT.
She looks at Kris like they had two heads. What does that mean??? There’s no good interpretation, that’s for sure! She only stops gawking at Kris once the salesperson speaks again.
“If you’re something else, maybe dating shoes aren’t right…? Maybe I could interest you in a FreezeRing?”
Noelle’s eyes perk up. “Huh…A ring? Faha, sorry, I don’t think we need something like that!” There’s no way this dream is going where I think it’s going! “C’mon, angel! You can’t get stronger without good equipment!” Oh. THAT kind of ring…Not…
She never thought a dream would have this much sense or worldbuilding. “Stronger…? Right, I guess that’s how it works here…” Faha, Kris buying ME a ring…? Yeah, right!
“Get it.”
She stares at Kris with shock. “Huh? Kris you’d buy it for me?” She asked, bewildered. She is met with a determined look that made her look away, a bit of blush dust sprinkled on her cheeks. “Sure, I guess…we could ask about it.” She fidgets with her long sleeve.
Asking about its cost, it is revealed that Kris is just one dark dollar (Amazing currency, dream.) short. “Sorry, we don’t have that much money.” Still, it was nice of Kris to offer. “Get it.” Kris says again, but that determined look was gone.
“Huh?”
Kris looks at her.
“Me? You were asking me to get it? Y’know we can’t afford that…”
“Get it.”
Their voice…It has been different for two days now, but it sounded even weirder now. “Kris, I just told you, we don’t have the money. What…What are you asking me to do?” She whispers. “You aren’t actually asking me to just…”
“Get it.”
The red eyes are hidden again, Kris’s voice was like if they were speaking through a filter.. “K-Kris, no. I…Not me, I could never-”
“Get it.”
Before she could process it, the moment she blinked, she felt lightheaded, her fingertips felt cold. The next time she opened her eyes, the salesperson was gone. And in Kris’s hand, was a blue ring with a small snow globe on top of it.
What just happened?
Did I actually just…
No, they…They must have given it to us…
Besides…It’s good to get stronger, isn’t it?
I shouldn’t feel guilty over a dream, no matter how surreal and lucid it feels.
Kris holds out a hand, she hesitantly lets her hand rest on top of it. Without waiting, the ring slid onto her finger with ease. Like it was made for her.
“Th…Thanks Kris!”
But Kris does not let go of her hand. Instead, they took away her silver watch on her wrist, it did not resemble the one she has in reality at all. She stared confusedly as Kris put it on instead. She decided not to question it; Having learned that questioning Kris leads only to more questions.
Instead, she follows them again.
They are met with a blue electric barrier, two buttons on each side end of it. Stepping on the button deactivates it, but letting go activates it again. Noelle offered to step on the button to let Kris pass, who in turn stepped on the other button on the other side, letting her cross.
“N…Nice teamwork!”
See Noelle? Nothing bad is going to happen. Getting that ring…Was good, wasn’t it? So… Stop thinking about it.
Stop thinking about stepping off the switch… and…Letting Kris get…Noelle, no, don’t think that! It’s horrible…
“It’s natural.”
Noelle tenses up, her eyes that were glued to the ground looked up to see Crimson eyes, staring at her with an odd ferocity. “K-Kris…? What are you talking about?” I must have said that out-loud?
Kris refuses to elaborate, they only march forwards.
She follows.
More enemies litter the cyber streets, and with each one Noelle freezes, the ice statues grow in numbers, haunting them each time they walk past. It becomes a subconscious task, her casting has gotten faster, stronger.
Eventually, they come across a trash can…That talks?? Wait, no. Someone was inside.
“LOOKING FOR [Irresistible Deals] THAT WILL [Blow Your Mind!?]”
Kris and Noelle glanced at each other for a second.
“WELL [Shut Your Mouth] BECAUSE YOU ARE [A Weakling!]”
She certainly was not! She was getting stronger!
“TRY A LITTLE [Friday Night Work Out]...”
“THEN I’LL SHOW YOU MY-”
“THEN I’LL SHOW YOU MY-”
“4 LEFT.”
Noelle was deeply confused. Kris seemed only confused for a second before they started walking again. She sighed and chased after. A few rooms later was another puzzle. “How should we solve it this time?” She muttered a question.
“Proceed.”
“How? There’s no way to go.”
Kris steps in front of her, forcing her to back up.
“The path is blocked…Isn’t it?”
“Proceed.”
She backs up again; Kris moving towards her more.
“Kris…What are you doing? Is everything okay?”
“Proceed.”
When she backs up this time. She feels the static of the electricity behind her, threatening.
“If…If we move any further…I’ll be…I’ll be…”
Her breath quickens, her heart beats quickly in her chest. “K…Kris you didn’t really hear what I said earlier, did you?” Her fur covered fingers latch onto her sleeves, holding it tightly. “You wouldn’t…let me…”
“Proceed.”
“K-Kris?”
“Proceed.”
Something about Kris's words made her hold out her hands, the familiar sensations of coldness overtaking her hands, she casted Ice Shock, freezing the entire puzzle, disabling the blocked path. Noelle stared dumbly for a moment before awkwardly smiling. “Th-There…looks like I did it.” Just like when I was told to get the ring…
I just…listened to Kris's command. And somehow, before I knew it…The puzzle was finished.
What was I thinking? Kris wasn't trying to hurt me…They were just making me stronger.
Noelle failed to notice Kris's expression before she froze the puzzle.
They proceeded. The remaining enemies started running away from them once they approached. Kris made an effort to engage each one of them, to leave every mouse, pop up ad, cat, triangle creatures encased in ice.
She is getting stronger.
When they're met with another puzzle, Noelle perks up. “I'll…go ahead and do the puzzle!” She informs Kris before separating from them. She approaches the puzzle, speaking her mind as she does so.
Isn't it a good thing?
I’m solving things by myself, taking new things for myself, defeating enemies by myself.
She looks up at Kris, standing behind the railing. She would like to think…Those sharp, red eyes were looking down at her with pride.
And every time I do it…I'm getting stronger.
...What did I do when I got that ring? When I solved that puzzle?
It doesn't matter…It doesn't matter if I don't remember. It doesn't matter if the battles are blurring together…
If Kris tells me to do it…I can do things I could never do before.
Isn’t it a good thing? I'm getting stronger.
With another spell, the puzzle was easily solved. As long as I do as they say…As long as I… She trails off.
“All finished, Kris! Should we find more enemies?”
She makes her way back to Kris with a refreshed grin. Kris does not return the smile.
After freezing the last two enemies, Kris makes them backtrack all the way to that dumpster.
“[Angel], [Angel].”
“ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE [Ring] OF [Thorns]?”
“Yes.”
Kris speaks. Voice steady. “THAT'LL BE 1997 KROMER.” What in the heaven is Kromer?
“Yes.”
A ring is tossed out of the dumpster. Into Kris's hand.
“HERE'S YOUR [Ring]! CAREFUL, IT MIGHT [Sting]!”
The voice laughs then abruptly goes quiet. Kris turns to Noelle, holding out their hand. Without hesitation this time, Noelle lets her hand rest on top of Kris's. Her FreezeRing is taken away. Replaced with a ring made out of thorns. It dug into her fur and skin.
She doesn't question it.
They move forward, together.
Noelle ignores every ice statue in the way. Eyes closed or glued to the ground, watching Kris's heavy metal boots hit the ground over and over again.
“Noelle?”
A voice breaks her a little out of the trance. “Kris, it looks like another enemy, should I freeze them?” She muttered softly, yet her voice was steady. “N-Noelle? Noelle, it's me, don't you recognise me!?” The deer's ears perk up, she fully focuses on the blue bird ahead.
“B-Berdly!?”
“Noelle, are you okay…? What are you doing with Kris…?”
“I'm just…We're …Getting…stronger…”
She doesn't like how Kris has gone silent at all.
“Getting stronger…How? Kris, what are you doing!?”
Even when Noelle is behind Kris, she can sense their lips parting apart, “Proceed.” She flinches, eyes wide. A deer stuck in headlights. “What? Proceed? Where?” Berdly questions. “Noelle, what are they talking about!?” He directs the question to her.
Following their command…Getting stronger…
She leaves Berdly unanswered. “Th-that's it Kris! I don't know what you're doing…But if you're hurting my friend Noelle…Then I have no choice but to stop you with force!” But Kris isn't hurting me!
A sound of liquid dripping catches her attention.
Her ears twitched as she looked down, she sees a trail of blood leaking out of her ring finger, dripping on the solid ground. How didn't I notice…? How didn't I feel it…?
“Kris, Ready yourself!
“W-wait! Berdy, stop! Run away!”
They'll see you as an enemy!
Her warning falls upon deaf ears, the battle began.
For the first time, Kris commands her a new command. “Defend.” She has just been casting spells…Maybe…Maybe they won't hurt Berdly? She summons an ice wall in front of her, shielding herself behind it.
Berdly attacks Kris, mercilessly. Kris narrowly dodges some of his attacks, while others graze or hit them. For some reason, she tenses up every time Kris loses HP.
She is commanded to defend again, and again. She doesn't know what Kris had in mind. Until…
“Cast Snowgrave.”
Kris commands her. “S…Snowgrave? I…I don't know that spell…” She whispers to Kris. But they insist. “Snowgrave.” Noelle feels up her bloodied finger, her brown fur stained red. “I'm telling you, I don't know what you're talking about!” She glares at them.
“Snowgrave.”
“I'm telling you, stop! I don't know what you're saying!”
“Snowgrave.”
“...Fine, you want to see what happens so bad? Watch what happens when I cast a spell I don't know!”
“...Snowgrave.”
FINE.
Noelle holds out her hands…Closes her eyes…and when she opens them... they are pure white.
Kris watches in awe as the deer floats up, snow begins to cover the whole area. Wide Crimson eyes watch a pillar of ice engulf the bird, an unreal amount of ice.
When the snow clears…Berdly is completely encased in unforgiving ice.
Noelle is on her knees, on the cold hard ground.
Kris wanted to-
“What…What happened…? There was so much snow…I couldn't see anything…”
“I…I don't feel so good…I think…I'm going to go home…”
Noelle shakingly stood up and equally as shaky walked off. Every fiber in Kris's being wanted to move, to comfort their friend.
Proceed.
But the Soul had other plans.