// TW \\

DEATH

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Paintbrush dove after Lightbulb, their flame brightened and their eyes flickered in similarity to the fire atop their head. The burning feeling pulsed through them and scalded their skin as markings burnt into their wooden body. They kept their eyes locked firmly on Lightbulb, who was falling faster due to her now increased wing size. A ribbon like accessory shimmered around her neck, it was massive! And a pearly white colour. Markings decorated her face and inside of her glass.

Baxter swooped down scooping up Lightbulb then returning up for Paintbrush. Paintbrush landed with a thud atop Baxter's back. They grunt and hold on tightly to Baxter's scales. The Dragon had many more marking across its body, Baxter also seemed much larger than he did Prior.

Lightbulb was totally out of it from the pain and combined lack of oxygen the sky had. She was probably over excited and took in too much of the thin air with her accelerated breath. Paintbrush scooted over to Lightbulb and checked her over. She seemed fine— just a bit sore.

Lightbulb groaned and lifted her head awkwardly to look up and Paintbrush. "Heya Painty...." She muttered groggily. "Wazzup?" She sat up nearly falling.

Paintbrush caught her and grabbed her face to get her attention. "What the hell is going on Lightbulb?!" They asked with worry and a bit of annoyance.

Lightbulb shrugged carelessly. "I dunno— agghh... My freakin back!" She whined, rubbing her moderately sized wings. "Man... That's no fun..."

Paintbrush sighed, and rubbed their eyelids before looking at the ground rushing past bellow. They nervously watched the world bellow that seemed almost what you would find in a fantasy book rush past. Their eyes flickered with astonishment, and their fire went from purple to white. The white flame danced with hope and curiosity. "Woah..."

"What? Whatsa matter...?" She looked over the edge and she literally lit up in surprise. "WOAH! Is this like— one of this cartoons or somethin?! That's sick!" She laughed.

Paintbrush chuckled and shook their head. "Where are we... This place is— kind of cool..." They muttered, and then sat back up, turning their head and catching sight of something in the clouds on the horizon. Paintbrush scooted towards Baxter's head and looked forwards. "What's that?" They pointed forwards.

Lightbulb tore her eyes away from the colourful trees and oversized mushrooms bellow. "Huh?" She tried to stand up ON BAXTER'S BACK. And walk over, but stumbled a few times before she plopped back onto her butt to look. She squinted her eyes and used her hand to shield the overhead light from the sunset. "It kinda looks like a city..." she whispered.

"I think so too—..." They mutter squinting their eyes to get a better look. Shock soon seeped into their mind as they witnessed the massive city resting atop a floating island that was buried in the clouds. "—Oh...My....God...." Their mouth fell agape.

Lightbulb cheered and patted Baxter's side. "Go on boy! To the city!!!" She exclaimed with excitement.

Paintbrush flinched and turned their gaze to Lightbulb. "What if they aren't friendly?! Lightbulb— I don't think we're in— uh... Objectica anymore..." Paintbrush muttered.

"I know that much Painty! But it's better to try than do nothin!" She smiled, turning her head to Paintbrush, then grabbing their hand with an excited grin. "Besides! We're doin it together!"

Paintbrush felt their face flush, they quickly shook it out of their face and looked off to the side. "E-er— Yeah! Ahah..." they smile to themself.

Lightbulb gave their hand a comforting squeeze and turned back to face the city ahead, determined embedded in her face.

———

Mephone4 fell from the sky clutching the jar with floory firmly in hand. His body aches and burnt as he felt it change and shift. He glitches and spasmed as his insides churned and changed. His eyes flickering and his body morphing into something new. The pain caused his grip to slip. The ground coming faster than he thought it would, as he hit it hard and tumbled across pavement. A shattering sound followed.

Objects around gasped and stumbled back, making way for the object that had his face firmly planted in the concrete bellow. The people of the sky city chattered amongst one another nervously glaring down at Mephone4 with nervous eyes.

Mephone4 groaned and lifted his head, He grumbled as he stood up and rubbed his leather face— le... LEATHER?! He yelped, dropping the jar in his lap and feeling his body and face. "WHAT?!" He gasped, tugging at his eyes that no longer rested on a screen. He felt his sides— one still leather...

The other... was paper.

He felt between the lines of papers and accidentally moved them. He gasped at the revelation and strange feeling that came with it. He slowly did it again, opening himself like a book, his face shifting to the pages rather than the cover. "What the...?!" He tried to read himself and saw a bunch of symbols and writing he didn't understand, his reading was already terrible... but now? With this...?! He grumbled and nervously shut himself, nervously rubbing his side.

He wasn't a phone anymore for sure...

He groaned and took a look at the floor in front of him. Shards of glass and sand— and— Floory......no he's not here... "Floory?!" He called, feeling around on the ground, beginning to hyperventilate. "FLOORY?!" He dug through the glass and sand, and winced as he cut himself on one of the many shards. His hand dripped with blood and he clutched his wrist. His hand shaking as the cut and aching combined into a slurry of pain. He whined and looked about at the shards as the realization slowly sunk in.

Floory had died.

It was all his fault! He couldn't hang on to the stupid jar! And now Floory was dead! Oh god... Everyone's going to hate him now! he scrambled away from the broken jar and whined. That's when he realized how small he was compared to his original size. It did make sense since... he was only like six or seven...? But it was humiliating since he didn't want to FEEL that young. Especially around all these new— strange adults... He got up from the ground and scrambled away, stumbling back away from object after object. Trying to run, tears began to drip down the cover of his face as he continued on. That's when he bumped straight into someone.

He fell to the ground with a yelp and a thud. And quickly scooted back. "I-I'm so— uh.. s-sorry—I—!" He was stopped by them kneeling down apologetically looking over them.

They had a more high pitch voice than he thought. "Oh gosh! I'm so sorry— Uhh... I shouldn't have been standing in the middle of the street like that I guess..." they mutter, helping Mephone4 up with a wispy hand.

Mephone4 stared into their eyes... They were rounder and wider than most— and... they barely even seemed like an object at all. It was kind of weird. "N-no— I'm sorry... I was running— I shouldn't have...—"

"Relax!" They pat Mephone4's head and shrugged. "You would have more to worry about if my friend was around anyway." They said with an apologetic smile.

"Wha...?" Mephone4 squinted his eyes.

"You look new around here? Where did you come from?" They pointed, asking curiously. Objects around chattered and gave Woahs to the interaction. As if they were surprised it was even happening.

Mephone4 nervously glanced up and sighed. "I came from the sky? Up there." He pointed.

"Huh." They turned their gaze up to the sky and squint. "You— you came from—?" They pointed their ghostly index finger to the sky.

Mephone gave a brief unsure nod, "Why...? Is that a bad thing?!" He yelped, stepping back, his footfall unsteady and shaky. As if he was going to get in trouble.

They look back, staring into Mephone's soul with a blank stare. "I don't think you're the..." They uneasily tapped their shoulder, humming to themself in concern and slight confusion. "You..."

"The— The what?" Mephone4 took a nervous step back once more. As if to run away if they shouted at him.

"W-Wait—... You aren't one of those shadow thingies that killed me right?" They jab a wispy finger at Mephone4's chest. A near accusatory scowl.

Mephone4 shook his head. "Nonono! No— I just— came from the sky! T-That's all!" He said with panic and nervousness planted in his gaze and voice.

They look at Mephone4 for another long second and sigh. "Yeah... You're too book like anyway..." They turn their gaze to the side thinking. "Have you seen any of them?" They asked.

"Well—... Depends on what you're talking about...?" He narrowed his eyes with skepticism and confusion. His nerves are away at him from the inside out.

"They like... drip ooze? Have these purple eyes and stuff?" They informed tapping a finger against their chin as they attempted to think.

"Like— Like Cobs?" Mephone4 raised a brow.

"Yeah! That's the guy!" They point with a nod— before they froze and turned back to Mephone4 with caution. "How do you know..." They interrogated defensively. Others around backed away.

"He attacked us—... uh... And he's kinda also my dad?" He muttered, recoiling away from the spirit before him. "B-but I'm not with him or anything...!" He muttered defensively.

"Your dad?! You came from the other world?!" They stumbled back, looking around. "You need to uh— come with me..." They grab Mephone4's wrist and lead him towards the massive castle in the centre of the city.

"What—?! Hey! I— J— huh?!" He worriedly wiped away the tears that rested in his eyes as they were dragged towards the castle. In the centre of the city. Door after door he was dragged, until they stopped in the centre room filled with tapestries and gilded markings and decor. Mephone4 had his mouth agape in awe at the beauty of the palace. But he cleared his throat and nervously looked back at the one who dragged him here. His eyes now glared into the larger ones of the one who stood before him. "So... uh... why did you drag me here...?!" He questioned trying to sound harsh, but mostly came off as unsure. The guilt of killing the one he called a friend still set deep into his being.

"I don't want the people to panic!" They worriedly shout. Pacing back and fourth. "So... you're the son of that Cobs guy... and... You came from the other world?!" They stopped and turned their head with worried eyes.

"I... uh... yeah...?" Mephone4 pulled his arms up into a T-Rex like position with a nervous glare. "Is that a problem?" He raised a brow.

"Yes!!! We were supposed to send someone to GET you! Not the other way around! Now HE can get in! Now HE has access to the raw energy of this world!" They wave their arms in the air as they shout, portraying their clear panic.

Mephone4 stood there frozen and whined.

"Oh... We don't even KNOW where the Crowned are! And— and— all the old Crowned are dead! There's nobody to defend anyone!" They frown, and sit down sadly.

Mephone4 observed their childish behaviour and nervously glanced around. "You have to defend this place on your own?" Mephone4 nervously asked, sitting down next to them.

"No! Uurghh... I don't have and power anymore... I'm just here to keep order...!" They hug themself, making a... squeaky toy type sound in the process.

"What...? Why?" He asked with a worried look in his eyes.

"I'm supposed to be dead! I'm only here in spirit..." They explain, looking down at their wispy form. "Im like a ghost... but different..."

Mephone4 nodded as he looked away and thought. "I uh... didn't know." He muttered.l, his gaze then turning back to the one next to him. "Cobs killed you...?"

"Yeah... me and my friends tried to fight him, like we did the previous deity of his kind. But we failed... he was too clever...! And we were picked off one by one...! I still remember the pain..." The hug themself again and shiver at the thought.

"I'm sorry..." He muttered with worry, ignoring his urge to act careless at a time like this.

They sigh and shake their head. "You don't need to feel bad..." They paused for a moment, "It's not really your fault."

"Mm..." Mephone4 nodded in response.

"I could give you a—uh... Place to stay? Come on, I know a good inn for you to stay at." They stand up and help Mephone4 to his feet.

Despite Mephone4's smaller size the other one was still smaller. Mephone4 nodded sheepishly and turned towards the door. "Thanks for uh... Being so generous." Mephone4 said, rubbing the back of his hand.

"It's really no problem— sorry for dragging you all the way here! I just— panicked I guess?" They smile with a nervous chuckle.

They stepped out of the palace and made their way down the streets, through crowds of happy objects and excited children playing in the decorated roads and shop stalls. Mephone4 smiled slightly at the sight. Everything was so lively here, it was kind of cool, that's when he noticed most of the objects here could fly, or glide. Probably something to do with the altitude they were at. This was a floating island after all. Even the one they were walking with had wings, kind of similar to Lightbulb's in a sense. The sunset overhead was quite nice too.

They finally reached the inn, and  stepped inside the welcoming wooden building with a comforting candle lighting. The two of them step inside. "This is the place! Just tell the lady at the desk I sent you! She can be a bit mean at times— but I swear she's sweet at heart!" The one who had brought Mephone4 here exclaimed in delight.

Mephone4 nodded and turned towards the room with the desk—

When there was a loud ringing of the bells outside. Mephone4 and the other figure flinched and turned whipping their head around at the sound. The spirit like figure rushed out, Mephone4 stood still for a second before running out too. He spun around trying to pinpoint the location of the other.

He eventually caught earshot of the screams a few streets down, he ran towards them, nearly tumbling down hill as he ran towards a dock like area. He slid to a stop and saw a massive dragon getting shot at with arrows and other various weapons.

His eyes narrowed in recognition. He watched the dragon refuse to attack back, and fly back with a pained roar. Two object atop the dragon yelp and flinch, dodging the various attacks of the objects bellow. Mephone4 gasped and ran out down in front of everyone on the sky docks, waving for them to stop. The spirit from before narrowing their large eyes in confusion and caution.

"GUYS!" Mephone4 panicked, "THEY AREN'T DANGEROUS!" He screamed in defence. He glanced up at Baxter, Lightbulb, and Paintbrush. "Actually... Quite the opposite..."

Many objects seemed skeptical, and kept their weapons steady. Not willing to trust this stranger and aimed to attack again. But the spirit waved for them to cease fire, and so they obliged.

Baxter stumbled down onto the docks and shook the arrows from his many scales.

Lightbulb hopped down, landing on both feet and turning to Mephone4. "Thanks so much book-fella! Gosh— I woulda been shot if it wasn't for you!" She smiled with gratitude. She then turned and excitedly waved on her tippy-toes to everyone else.

Paintbrush sighed and patted Mephone4's shoulder with a thankful face. "Sorry about her... She can be a bit excitable... We appreciate the help though."

Mephone4 looked at them with a confused and a face that one could only describe with the word 'appalled'. "Yeah— I know?!" Mephone4 removed their hand and crossed his arms angrily.

Paintbrush flinched and moved their hand away. "Uh...?" Paintbrush studied the look of the object before them.

"Stop looking at me like that!" He shouted, tossing his arms up in the air.

Lightbulb looked back at Mephone4 and then Paintbrush. "What's going on?" She raised a brow.

"Nothin- this kid's just freaking out?" Paintbrush muttered looking back down at Mephone4 for a moment with confusion in their eyes.

Mephone4 was stunned and frankly outraged. "DO I REALLY LOOK THAT DIFFERENT?!" He asked with a frustrated glare.

"What?" They both asked in unison.

"ITS ME! MEPHONE4?! YOUR HOST!" He stomped his foot on the ground, his teeth grinding.

Paintbrush blinked, and then covered their mouth, gasping in recognition. "OH..." They looked around apologetically.

"Mephone4? Oh! Oh! I get it! The new look is a Meeple software update!!! Eh? Eh???" Lightbulb did finger guns.

"What— No Lightbulb you moron..." Paintbrush face palmed and shook their head. "You can't change your looks with a SOFTWARE update." They mutter as they rubbed their temples.

"Uh. Oh. Well then, what happened? You got plastic surgery?" She asked in confusion.

"No— I just— Fell down from the sky! And by the time I hit the ground— I looked like this..." Mephone4 explained, crossing his arms.

Paintbrush nodded, "I see... Why are you uh... So small though?" Paintbrush asked, pointing a finger at Mephone4.

"Ugh... I don't want to talk about it..." Mephone4 grumbled his fists clenching around his arms as he kept them crossed.

Paintbrush's eyes narrowed again, "Right—..."

The spirit from before walked over through the crowd. "I-uh... Love the reunion and all but... Who are you?" They asked with caution and worry.

Mephone4 turned to them and spoke up. "These are my conte—er... friends? Friends. Lightbulb, and Paintbrush." He explained.

"Hm..." They nodded. "Are they also from the other world?" They ask, fidgeting with their hands raising a nervous eyebrow.

Mephone4 shrugged, "I guess so? You said I was from another world and— they come from where I came from." He responded, using his hands to talk to try and mask his nervousness.

They look over the three of them, and their eyes fall on Lightbulb. Something sparked in them almost immediately. They look like they needed to contain their excitement, and quickly stop themself from spouting nonsense. "I Uhm— there's a lot to talk about! B-but it's getting late so Uhm... I'll just show the three of you to the inn for now I guess! Hahah—..."

"What about Baxter!" Lightbulb pouted.

"Uh...? The dragon?" They asked in response to her question.

"Duh!" She put her hands on her hips with a pouty-angry look. Paintbrush just sighed in embarrassment.

"Uh— your dragon can stay here for now. I'll find a place for it in a bit— but it's really important you guys get out of the open!!! Come on!" They run around and pushed them all towards the inn from before.

As they walked through the crowd Paintbrush skeptically looked back at the spirit. "Why should we follow you? We don't even know your name yet..." They asked with a critical tone.

"What? Oh! I forgot to introduce myself...!" They stop pushing the three of them uphill as they began to walk on their own. The spirit stepped infront of them once again leading the way. "My name is X!" They exclaim as thier feet tapped against the brick street bellow.

"X?" Lightbulb questioned, "Like the letter?"

"No, no! Like... the number—? Or variable I suppose." X explained as they continued up the street. "I'm a— Well... I guess a former Devine being."

"Former?" Paintbrush echoed.

"They're kinda dead..." Mephone4 cut in, trying to keep his voice down as to not be rude.

"What?!" Paintbrush's head whipped back to X. Now that they thought about it— that kind of explained their appearance. The ghostly whisky like fog they were made of. "I See..." They muttered beneath their breath.

X finally reached the inn again, and stepped inside. "I REALLY have to get going! I have things to take care of— and now that you guys are here my plate is SUPER full! So just uh... Stay in the city! And I'll come find you guys when I need you okay?" X then smiled kindly.

"Alright!" Lightbulb exclaimed with a smile. Paintbrush and Mephone4 both nodded in unison and waved X off as they ran out the door.

Mephone4 lowered the hand he used to wave and turned towards the lady at the desk. "C'mon guys..." he waved Lightbulb and Paintbrush over as he stepped towards the woman. "Hey!" He waved, having to stand up on the tips of his toes to properly see over the counter.

The tall girl, who looked like a flower with bright pink petals peered down at him, lowering her book, and closing it harshly. "Yes kid?" She asked with hostility laced in her voice.

"Uhm— we need a room—"

She leaned on the desk with a scowl. "You hit the money?" She asked harshly, glaring down at Mephone4.

He flinched, "Uh no—?"

"Then scram!" She hissed, picking her book back up. And flipping through the pages with a huff, turning her heel away from the desk.

"X said you could get us a room?" Mephone4 added, which made the girl freeze, and turn her head back.

"X?" She asked, surprised. She glanced around, and sighed as she placed her book down. "Why would they send you here?!" She asked with skepticism.

"We're from another world. And need a place to stay or somethin..." Lightbulb shrugged.

The girl's eyes widened. "Oh. Well you should've lead with that! You morons..." She spat, placing her hands on her hips and shook her head. "Tsk tsk... Should've known...—" she sighed and turned, "—how many rooms?"

Mephone4 turned to the other two, with a expression that asked them the same question.

Paintbrush thought for a moment. "Thre—?"

"Two!!! Me and Painty can share!" Lightbulb shouted happily. "SLEEPOVER WOO!!!"

The girl nodded and handed two room keys. "There upstairs and down the left hall. And if you make ANY noise past midnight... I don't care what X says— you're OUT. Got it?" She growled.

"Right..." Paintbrush nodded apologetically, and handed a key down to Mephone4.

The girl flinched. "Children under 16 can't have their own room..." She grumbled.

"He's— he's not— well— he is under 16... But not mentally. Y'know?" Paintbrush shrugged.

"Right... sure... Not happening pal..." She spat. Tapping her fingers against the counter with frustration and impatience.

"Painty is not a liar!" Lightbulb spat, getting right up in the taller girl's face with a scowl.

The girl stared back, not letting up for a few minutes... but eventually tiredly grumbled and gave in. "Fine! Fine... But he's not allowed in the bar..." She hissed, turning away.

Lightbulb fist pumped triumphantly. "Yes! Who's the best? That's right! I'm the freakin best! C'mon Painty!" She grabbed their wrist and ran up the steps.

Mephone4 clutched his key and sighed, stepping up each creaky stair tiredly. The carpeted halls were neatly decorated, which was something that he could respect. He strode through the hall and stopped in front of his room, and pushed the key into the doorknob. He twisted the key and pushed the door open. The room was neatly decorated with velvet carpets and bedding.

He grabbed the key and slumped into the room, shutting the door behind him with a sigh. The guilt from before creeping back into his mind. How did he let that happen? He— he killed someone! Properly killed someone— he... He didn't know what to think...

He grumbled and whined as he stepped towards the bed and crawled inside, pulling the blanket over his head with a pouty lip.

Tomorrow was a new day.

Maybe things would be better?

———

New character :3

How were they? :0

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