"Doc careful!" Seesuma called after me.
"I'm fine!" I assured him, laughing it off and continuing across the log bridge.

It was surprisingly high up off the ground considering the fairly flat terrain so far on this hike.
"Whoa! Hey!" I snapped and Biffa laughed shoving his hands in his pockets.

"That's not funny Biffa!" X snapped.
Biffa rolled his eyes with a scoff.
He'd never actually do anything to hurt, hurt us. He's too protective for that. But he wasn't the "nicest" older brother.
"I'm fine See-su-ma!" I assured the oldest with a wave.
"See, he's fine!" Biffa scoffed, proudly crossing his arms.

The two began arguing and I tuned them out.
My foot slipped and I tried to steady myself. I tuned in just in time to hear Hypno say, "Doc!" before I slipped and fell.
They screamed after me.

I remember slamming on the ground and the air being knocked out of me. Then, something sat on me? It was large and hard? It split into 2 at some point. I think?
It hurt for a while, sitting on my right arm and left side of my face, but then it didn't. Then the pain disappeared.

I could still see, if only a little bit. I could still breathe. It wasn't blocking those functions. I could still move my legs and my left arm. But my back hurt too much to do that.

I was scared. I could see Jessie peering over the edge for a moment and then disappearing. I wanted to call for him. But I couldn't.
I mean I could, but I couldn't? I couldn't do anything. Just lay there.

What was I doing? I don't know. I must have been there for a while though.
The golden rays from the sun morphed into a pinky purple and it appeared through the green leaves making everything a silky orange and pink. I could hear myself breathing. Thick and heavy. I could hear birds singing a lullaby to me and wondered if I should just fall asleep.

What do you do in these situations?
I wanted to scream, to cry, to yell, to fall asleep. To get whatever this was off of me. To see again, to feel my arm again.

What was on me? Why won't it let me move?

I can hear myself trembling. I don't remember doing that. When did I start doing that? I could feel my feet kicking, something, something, why was I kicking? Moving, flee, flee, flee. No. I can't. I can't move.

You can't move Doc, stop kicking.

But my legs kept moving. They weren't kicking anymore, at least I can't see them kicking anymore. But I could just barely hear the cracking of my toes as I wiggled them in my shoes.
The popping from my ankle as my body, against my will, instinctively checked what it could and couldn't move.

Somewhere I asked why I wasn't paralyzed. I should have been. With that fall? It should have paralyzed me.

Not that I want to be paralyzed! But... Maybe?

If I still had access to my right hand and arm I would have slapped myself in the face and have been out of this mess already! I raised my left arm. It wasn't my dominant but I figured I might as well find out what I'm under.

Heh.
I wish I hadn't done that.

One-touch of the sharp jagged rock that sat on my face and I could practically feel it jabbing into me.
Agony. I started sobbing. I couldn't stop it. I didn't want to.

Why, why'd this happen? Please, please I can't die now! I'm only 10, please!

Why'd they leave me? X? Jessie? Biffa, Python, Tango? Anyone?!
Please, please, please!
No...
Not like this.
Not like this, not like this, not like this!
Please, please I'll do anything!

...
Please?
...

Doc, get yourself together. It's ok. They'll come back. They know what happened. They'll get mom, and dad, and everyone. And they'll come get you.

Even if the sun's wonderful rays of hope were depleting into a plunge of darkness that you can't yet see in. Even if the sounds of the night grew scarier as each moment passed. Even as you worry that the creatures will get to you before momma does. You can not break down.

That's not gonna help.

Even with my own monologue pep-talk I couldn't help but cry. I can't stop it. They just- they just flowed.

What if an animal does get to me first? I can kick it...? Would that do me any good?
I have nothing. X had everything. No food, no light, no comfort at all.

I can't even go find something. I'm completely stuck. Not helpless, but stuck.

...
...

I always hated the dark.
Or maybe it hated me? But I had always found it scary. Not tonight though. It was as if it knew I was already scared and it didn't want that for me.

I found joy in the little fireflies twinkling in the sky. Both literally and figuratively. I found the actual fireflies as nice company, and I found the stars as small night lights for me when the rest of the world had turned dark. I couldn't see the log anymore, I wonder if that's the thing on my arm.

Maybe...
I couldn't help but laugh as a firefly landed on my nose. It's light shining just for me.
"Hi, little buddy!"
He twinkled for me for a moment and flew away to return to his friends.
Like a fairy. A magical fairy that runs off of joy, it must want me to be happy. That must be it.

I also found comfort in the dear that came around the time the moon was in the middle of the sky.
I was afraid at first. I was afraid it would eat me like I had been afraid of hours before. Instead, it nuzzled me. And then it nipped at my clothing, trying to see if I was editable.

When it turned out I was not she scampered away. I was scared she'd land on my legs to I brought them in in fear. I'm glad I did because she did end up with her legs there. But only for a moment. One moment that could have really hurt though.

When I finally relaxed I brought my legs back out and continued waiting.
I found entertainment in playing with my feet and my tongue, although I couldn't see it I still laughed at it.

I remember dad saying something about keeping your morel high in stressful situations. I wonder if I should fall asleep. Or maybe that would just do me more harm than good.

How do you keep your moral high asleep? Or rather, how do you keep your moral high stuck under 2 objects. A rock and possibly a log. Although, surprisingly, I couldn't see what it actually was.

I would have expected an old log to be easy to push off. But maybe with that force? Maybe it wasn't even a log.

....

I almost cried when the soft rays of yellow and pink and purple made the dark blues and greens light up in a rainbow of colors.
The light brown around me wasn't exactly the prettiest but it was dotted with greens and yellows of grass that made my stay just a little more comfortable.

The fireflies bid me their farewells and the birds started singing me a good morning song. One that eased any worries I had for the day.
It was easy to forget the pain in your body when the birds were singing you a song. One that no one else is there to enjoy, just yet.

Maybe, when they find you, you can sing it to them. I know how much False loves nature. She'd be so happy to hear the tune the birds came up with for you.
She'd understand.

I started whistling. Learning their tune. Burning it into my brain so I can repeat it to my baby sister when I go home. I know Zedaph would enjoy it too.

Keep them in your mind Doc. Once you forget about them you know you're not going home.
You're going to go home.
They'll find you. I promise.

Don't make a promise to yourself, that's weird. Who else am I supposed to do it with then? I'm all alone out here. For now.

...
I remember closing my eyes, but not falling asleep. You know, when you lay down with a movie or video and you wake up to your mother calling you for something? And you realize that your movie is passed or your 4-6 episodes past where you had started.

Only this time I woke up and the sky was darker. Sunset. There was no external thing to wake me up. No yells, no bird call, no cricket chirp, no pain.

I felt numb, both mentally and physically. My rays of hope still glittered the sky and it was pretty. It wasn't the stars keeping me from fear but it instead was like my mother tucking me in for bedtime when I wasn't quite ready to fall asleep.

Reading me a lullaby which started with the birds and ended with a blanket.
One that made my body want to curl up on its side and wish her a good night.

I wanted to go home, but home was so so far out of my reach. I can't go home I can't make it. Not without you.
You.
You.
Who even are you? To the point where I can't even make it back to my house without you, you have to be important!

Or maybe you're not important, but I can't leave without you. Not when you've been by my side for so long. Who even are you?

No. No, no, no. I promised I wouldn't cry. I promised myself, you, whoever you are.

Are you watching? Are you my angel. Do I need to follow you? But I can't move. Will you help me get it off? Will you take me home? I want to go home.

I don't want to die...

...

...

I'm sorry, please come back?
I didn't mean it! I'll come with you! I will! Just stay with me until I can get out?

Please?
Promise me you'll stay?
Do you promise?

Do you hear that? My breathing? It's thick again, I've been sobbing too much it feels...it doesn't feel good...

Thank you.
For staying with me.
I didn't want to die alone. But with you here, I won't ever be alone.
Thank you.

...

...

...

..

..

.
.
.

"DOC!? Doc please!"

Do you hear that angel? I can feel it. Something's on my chest. I recognize the voice. But it's so dark, and I can't see him. Which one is it? Can you tell me?

"Doc, Doc, please! Please be breathing!" He pleaded.
His cold fingers touched my neck. So cold...
It's not X... He wears gloves.
Who are you?

"GUYS! I FOUND HIM!" He called.
Who are you?
Angel, can you see him? Can you tell me?
"It's ok Doccy, they're coming, " he assured me.
Not Jessassin, he wears gloves with thumb holes.
Not False, she's a girl. This was a guy. A guy I knew.

Not Biffa, gloves.
Tango? Maybe.. But he was always pretty warm.
Python? His skin was always cold.
"Py-th-on?" I asked.
I wanted confirmation.

"Doc? Yes, Doc it's me! It's ok, we're gonna get you out of here. MOM! DAD! HE'S STUCK, PLEASE HURRY!" He cried.
Fast shuffling. I feel like my hearing has gotten better.

When did Python care this much though? It was him, I knew now that it was him. His rough skin cold against the right side of my face and neck.

Are you still here? Am I gonna get out of here?
I know I promised I'd follow you... But.... I think I have to go now.

I think they're here for me.
I can hear the birds now. The shuffling, and leaves crackling. I wonder if the dear I met is watching. Or my firefly friends. I can see the stars. The moon.
They're high now. Gazing through the gap of the trees to watch me be freed and go with them.

Will you come too? Or do you have somewhere better to be? Can you do me a favor? Promise me I'll see you again? Do you promise?

...

Thank you....

...

"No no, Doc please, open your eyes!" Python cried.

The weights are gone now. Everything is dark, but that's ok. I know where I'm going now. And I know you'll be there too.

....

...

..

.

"YOU GAVE ME A FREAKIN HEART ATTACK!" X screamed.
I just laughed as he cried. I know it was wrong but, I couldn't help myself. I love that look in his eyes. And with his helmet off it was easier to see. To see his expression morph from anger to sadness back to anger.

He was scared. No, he had been terrified. And I was laughing. If I could, I would've hugged him. But the lack of arm and my lack of depth perception would probably just send me trying to hug the air and fall off the bed.
It was a stiff thing but welcome none-the-less. Compared to the cold rock and soil and the grass I had as a bed prior, this was good. Good enough for me.

But the white walls did nothing to ease any fears I had like nature had. I wanted them all in the room. Even if the max vacancy was only 6.

I didn't dare cry though. Even if I wanted to, to cry. I knew it did me no good.
I wonder if this is all a dream...
Or the afterlife. Did I follow you after all? How'd you get me unstuck?

Guess I'll see what it has to offer.

No point in waking up now.

....

"How does it feel?" Mom asked.
Wrong.
"Uhm, awkward?" I replied.
"I know, and it will be hard to get used to for a while, " she chuckled. Her belly was big as she was about to have another baby.
Her smile was off-centered, one side higher than the other. The yellow of the room complimented her dress like a cafe, and it kind of made me hungry.

Her soft just dried brown hair draped over one shoulder as she kneeled in front of me, shorter than I was now.
I'll get used to it? Like how I'll get taller?
Sure.

She ran a finger over the metal of my new face.
I've had it for a few months but it was weird. The arm was new though. Just connected 2 days ago.
I wonder if she feels bad or if she's proud of me?

With a soft warm kiss to my forehead, it was clearly the ladder. "I love you, my brave boy, " she assured me.
"Mom!" Ren called.
Mumbo stood inches behind him desperately trying to shut him up by shoving his hand in front of his mouth. The 6 and 4-year-olds were adorable. Especially considering that Mumbo looked 9 instead of 6, and looks far older than Ren.

Ren licked Mumbo's hand, he must have because he immediately retracted.
"Mumbo has a crush!" Ren cheered, mocking my baby brother.
Mumbo whined and dragged Ren with all his little baby force could handle towards the door. Once close enough he clearly knew what he was doing because he whined and 5-year-old Iskall and 7-year-old False attacked from behind dragging the outnumbered 4-year-old out of the room while mom laughed.

I couldn't help it, it was infectious!

I can tell you have to go. I just can. Like when you came to me that day before I fell. I knew you were there, I just didn't recognize you.
It's ok. You can go.
Promise you'll protect them though, ok?

Good, I'll see you in a few years then...

-------------

Changes made: I changed Ren and Mumbo's ages. Now Ren is younger than Mumbo and Iskall. Mumbo came in season 2 and Ren came in season 4, I believe Iskall came in season 4 as well feel free to correct me. So I shuffled things around a bit so Mumbo was older and still kept Iskall a year below him like the rest of the story says. Small change but I think it's relatively important ❤❤