Third Person

It was midnight but Cody wasn't tired.

He wasn't even in bed, finding himself too restless to even enjoy the normal comfort of it and instead sat against one of the pillars surrounding the Nexus. The light it gave off was the only in the room, and most of the guards left him alone, figuring he needed it.

If Cody was honest with himself, he wasn't sure if he wanted to be alone or not, but he did know he wanted silence. Talking wasn't appealing, and especially about what was upsetting him. However, despite the tactic to do so, the thought never left the lone king. He knew exactly who he wanted to be at his side, but he knew that wasn't going to happen.

Seconds turned into minutes and minutes ticked by, and eventually, Cody looked to the ceiling and through the hole in the roof that led to the top of the palace, thinking to himself. He found the words escaping his mouth.

"Happy birthday, Joe." He said, barely speaking in a whisper.

His head drooped back down and his eyes fluttered shut as he sighed in sorrow. Even though he wasn't tired, he thought about just sleeping right then and there, but a small, blue flash made him open his eyes again, then do a double take.

The Nexus energy was stretching around the pillar and now was mere inches away from his face. Cody blinked in surprise as it backed up and a sliver of the already small amount of energy flowed out of it and dusted on Cody's head.

Then he heard her. The Nexus.

"I'm sorry." She told him, voice echoing in his head. "Losing someone so close to you is always a tough feat."

Cody, though already shocked, still found himself feeling down. "Yeah, no kidding." He mumbled. The penguin brought his legs close to him and hugged them to his chest. "You don't have to do this, I'm just lonely, that's all."

"You have so many people around you, and yet, you feel alone? All you need to do is call out to them, and they will come. Why must you feel this way if there is such an easy cure for it?"

Cody chuckled to himself. "It's so simple when you put it like that. People are complicated, I will tell you that. Besides, I'm fine really."

"I'm not the type of being you should lie to. You do realize I sense your soul."

"Right." Cody clicked his tongue and paused. "Maybe I'm not okay."

"You appear to not be. Why is that? I might have a hold on your soul, but I cannot read your mind. What's troubling you?"

Cody searched for words. Of course he knew what topic was troubling him, but there was something that truly bugged him... What was it? It took Cody a while to find the words, but in the end, he did. "I never got to say goodbye." The words slipped out of his mouth before he even realized that was the true cause to his misery.

The Nexus did not respond, and instead, began to stretch even further, extending to the stairs, then spreading out from there. It formed and twisted like it was clay, making the whole section of the top of the stairs seem like it was pure electric blue. Then, moving to the top of the stairs, a figure appeared. One that made Cody go speechless.

The Nexus did not have the same reaction. "Let me share with you a memory. I see a lot happen in this room."

The Nexus had formed a life sized Joe, though still kept the blue of its original source. Cody froze in place as the chicken looked around, holding a book in his hand. He perked up as he stared down the stairs, and another figure soon appeared by his side. Rasmus, but this one was artificially created as well.

"Joe," The Fake Rasmus sighed as he reached the top of the stairs. "I didn't expect you to be ready so early." His voice echoed, like Cody was hearing it at the end of a cave.

Joe straightened up, a determined look on his face. "I wanted to start this journey as soon as I could! I packed everything I need, and had enough time for a couple other things. All of the bacon is gone by the way."

Rasmus paused for a moment, looking at the ground before returning his focus to the chicken. "About the journey... Joseph, are you sure you want to do this? I know I've said this before, but this will be the most difficult journey you'll ever face. Poseidon is not an easy man to track, and even less so dead."

Joe nodded his head firmly. "I know, but there are somethings I need to know for myself. I'll be fine, Rasmus."

Rasmus frowned but nodded in the end. "Very well. I didn't think I could talk you out of it, but no harm in trying I suppose." His eyes finally caught the book in Joe's hand. "What's that?"

Joe looked down and fiddled with the cover of it. "A note for Cody. Mind leaving this somewhere for him to read later?" He handed it over, and Rasmus took it.

The rooster peered into it curiously, and after a moment of reading through it, he shut the book and gave Joe a peculiar look. "Joseph... I shouldn't criticize how you do things after all the mistakes I've made, but you never actually said goodbye in this note. Not to mention, you're leaving before he's awake meaning you won't say it in person either. Shouldn't you at least provide your brother that?"

Cody's heart pounded as he watched the scene unfold, then it nearly stopped when Joe spoke.

The chicken shook his head. "No." His action left both Cody and Rasmus confused.

"No? You're not going to say it?" Rasmus repeated, now confused beyond belief.

Joe nodded his head. "I always hated goodbyes." He began to explain with a puff. "They're always so sad and they act like its the last time you're going to see each other."

The chicken's eyes trailed over to the stairs as he continued. "I was hoping that maybe, if I don't say goodbye, it'll be more like I'm not really gone, but rather... Just not here right now."

Rasmus watched his eyes, sadness lingering in both of them, and decided to drop it. "Very well. The guards are waiting to get you through the portal."

Joe nodded, and began to walk away, the image of him starting to fade as he did. Rasmus let him, biting his own lip, then called out. "Joseph!" The chicken turned around. "G-..." Rasmus struggled with the word, now unsure of himself.

"Don't say it!" Joe called back, smiling slightly. "I'm not gone, just not here right now, remember? We'll see each other again, I promise!"

As Joe turned around again and left through the door, his illusion shattered, leaving only Rasmus, looking almost hopeless as he left, before it shattered and returned to the Nexus.

Cody was speechless for so long, then finally realized the tears his eyes were leaking. He wiped them away and smiled at the Nexus. "Thank you." He whispered to her, eyesight blurring but he didn't care anymore.

"Pleasure to have helped." If she had a face, Cody had a feeling she would be smiling.

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Fun Fact: Joe never physically said "Goodbye" in his last note to Cody before he left.
Which was perfect for me and my fuel for this chapter.

The Nexus gets to talk to Cody a little, which only works due to her concentration, power, and great connection with him. She also shows him a memory, another thing that takes a lot from her but she did to help Cody a little. He's her favorite out of the royal family.

This idea was off of Wolfy's comment of "The Nexus Comforting Cody" and I really loved it and did it! Then, just because I can, I added a sprinkle of RvB reference feels for good taste and I think it worked out!

Anyways, this was a lot of fun and I added in a lot of references from Joe's actual note! I hope you guys liked this! Be sure to comment what you think, and see ya next time!

--JustAnAtlanitsWriter