Chapter Text
“Another day saved, am I right Kris?” Susie gave them a light punch on the shoulder. “These dark worlds have been popping up more and more lately, can’t even get a good night’s rest anymore huh?”
Kris silently nodded as Susie let out a big yawn as she looked around the concession hall of the church. “Seems we missed the second bit of service huh? Catti and Jockington seem to be already gone as well…” Susie glanced over at Kris “Hope your mom won’t be too mad about us ditching it.”
“It’s fine.” Kris gave Susie a weak smile.
“If you say so…” Susie started to make her way down the aisle away from the activity room and turned to Kris. “If you wanna hang today I’ll be by the diner. See ya later Kris.”
Susie slowly opened the church doors and looked both ways before slinking outside, leaving Kris alone in the church. With Susie gone, they went back into the activity room, gathered up everything scattered about, and put them into a garbage bag on their back.
With their usual subtlety, they took the bag and exited the church, the cool afternoon air hitting their face with a sharp bite. They quickly made their way to the school and entered the closet, letting the new darkners free into Castle Town.
“Kris! You’re here!” Ralsei skittered up to Kris with excitement. “Seems you already brought everyone here, good.”
Ralsei gave Kris a quick look before continuing, “Oh right! Seam wanted to speak with you, if you have a moment Kris. But what you do is up to you!”
Ralsei gave Kris a big smile before taking his usual place in the party. “Say Kris…um… where’s Susie?”
“Diner.” Kris gave Ralsei a quick glance as they answered.
“Ah right… Just wondering!” Ralsei failed to hide his disappointment.
With the conversation seemingly over, Kris made their way into Castle Town with Ralsei following close behind.
The bustle of Castle town was now intense, the streets filled with darkners milling about. Many gave Kris cheerful bows and compliments as they made their way to Seam’s shop, drawing little attention from them.
As Kris and Ralsei walked in, Seam started talking as if they had expected them. “Welcome back. I assume you’ve got another shadow crystal for me?”
Kris gave a slight shake of their head.
Seam raised an eyebrow. “How peculiar… are you sure you checked everywhere?”
Kris gave a heavy sigh. “Yes. I’m certain.”
“Is it that time already…?” Seam whispered to themself, before meeting Kris’ eyes again. “I see, how interesting. Kris, perhaps you should spend some time with your friends? You may find help from an unexpected ally.”
“Kris…I…” Ralsei stammered before tugging Kris’ arm. “I’m not sure this is safe, the last one was-”
“This is the path they want to pursue.” Seam cut off Ralsei’s protests. “If they wish to see this through then we are obligated to help.”
“R-right…” Ralsei clammed up and stepped back once again.
“I will warn you though, this next opponent is… stronger than any you have faced so far. Even I couldn’t-” Seam stopped themself. “In any case, have a good time Kris, it’s sure to be interesting ha ha!”
“Thank you.” Kris turned to leave the store.
“Wait, hold on.” Seam reached for a letter from their shelves and handed it to Kris. “You’ll need this. Be sure to only open it when you know the time is right.”
Kris nodded and put the letter into their pocket, before leaving the store and making their way back out of Castle Town.
“Kris I…” Ralsei stopped just before the light pillar. “Just… be safe. I can’t help you out there.”
“...I will. Promise.” Kris took a step into the light and in a flash they were back in the school.
In a surge of panic they spotted Alphys coming down the hall, and tried their best to act natural.
Alphys was lost in thought and only noticed Kris when they got quite close. “Oh, Kris! Um… what are you doing here? There’s no school today…?”
“Grabbing supplies for the project.” Kris’ sweating slowed. Good choice.
Alphys face beamed. “Oh I see. Well good luck with that! Just uh… tell me next time and I can get it for you alright? Chalk keeps going missing and I’m trying to catch the culprit.”
“Definitely Susie or Noelle”. Kris thought to themself before nodding at Alphys and excusing themselves from the school.
The cold breeze once again hit their face as they went outside. As they made their way back to town, they took out the small piece of paper that was now in their pocket, and saw it was a torn piece of some book.
“Is this…”
“Ah Kris!” Noelle called out as she saw them make their way past the hospital. They put the paper away and came over to chat. “I uhm..”
Berdly stepped out from behind Noelle, one of his arms in a brand new cast, and beamed with excitement. “We wish to socialise with you, Noelle has been asking me all morning.” Giving a slight elbow nudge to Noelle as if to signal something.
“Berdly I… thanks.” Noelle recomposed herself before continuing. “Well it’s just… I’d like to hang out while we have a day off, if you uh, don't have other plans of course.”
“I was meeting up with Susie.” Kris responded flatly.
“R-Really?” Noelle’s face lit up. “Well uh… don’t mind me then, another ti-”
“Then we shall accompany you!” Berdly cut off Noelle and turned to Kris. “ If Susie wouldn’t mind of course?” Berdly unsubtly gave Kris a big wink as he said it.
“She wouldn’t.” Kris answered. They’d plan to hang out with her alone, but they were sure she wouldn’t mind this company. Well, at least half of it anyway.
“Excellent! Noelle, prepare our equipment, we are joining Kris’ party!” Berdly picked up his school bag with his good arm and motioned Noelle to do the same.
Noelle, looking flustered, picked up her own and jogged to catch up with Kris and Berdly who had already started making their way north.
The three made their way north, turning left to see Susie waiting just outside the QC diner.
“I see you pick up some extra bodies Kris.” Susie gave a glance to the two behind Kris before looking back at them. “Thought this was an us thing, but it was your idea so whatever floats your boat.”
“Greetings Susa- erm Susie.” Berdly shuffled up and straightened themselves up awkwardly. Noelle was staying back and staring at the floor.
“Well then, shall we head in?” Susie gave a head motion towards the QC’s.
“We should have some pizza instead.” Kris managed to stammer out through a confused expression.
“Pizza…? Sure with the extras I guess that makes sense.” Susie scratched the back of her head. “I’ve just…never had any before…”
Noelle jolted as if snapped out of a trance. “W-what like, EVER?”
Susie shuffled in place, looking increasingly awkward. “Never been taken I guess.”
“Well we HAVE to now! I’ll pay, I insist!” Noelle was practically shoving Kris towards the Ice-E’s at this point.
“The plan is settled! Onwards fellow nerds!” Berdly pointed towards the pizzeria and the group all started making their way there.
They all made their way inside, and the atmosphere was the same as usual, the smell of grease emanating from the kitchen. Various shouts from the Warrior could be heard as they all sat down. Berdly began rambling about the latest upcoming release that he required friends to play with.
“And THAT’S why you three should all get Dragon Blazer’s Online when it drops.” Berdly, looking proud of himself, pointed to the ceiling and then to the three sat round the table.
“Huh, sounds kinda fun actually.” Susie was already nibbling away at the garlic breadsticks. “You said something about roles? Which one should I be?”
“Well, it follows the holy trinity, so you shall play the role of a tank.” Berdly asserted, before turning to Kris next. “Me and Kris have always been partial to DPS focused classes, we could fill the two dps slots in a party.”
"I-I guess I can be a healer then.” Noelle pitched in. “They usually use magic as well, right? I like the mage classes in Dragon Blazers!”
“You sure you’re gonna be able to keep up with me, Noelle? I’m preeeeetty reckless.” Susie put her hands behind her head and gave her a toothy grin.
“I-I uhm… yeah maybe…” Noelle failed to hide the redness appearing on her cheeks.
“Shall I take your orders then?” The group turned to face a slightly disheveled Pizzapants, who turned to Kris. “ Oh hey little Buddy, I didn’t realise you were coming today.”
Susie leaned back forward onto the table. “Yeah change of plans, we’ve got a larger group today.” Susie brought up the menu for a moment before answering. “I’ll have the Meateoric destruction.”
“Your finest Sesame Seed Delight, if you would, dear sir.” Berdly said with bravado.
“Three Cheese.” Kris answered.
Noelle took a sec before answering. “Sizzling Vegicano please. Extra spice.”
A look of surprise came across Susie’s face before Pizzapants started taking the menus. “Give us a few minutes to get the food cooked. I’ll chat in a bit, buddy.” Pizzapants left to the back of the store.
Noelle noticed the look on Susie’s face. “What’s up Susie?”
“N-nothing just uh… didn’t expect you to like spicy food so much.”
“I guess I give that kinda impression huh.” Noelle turned to Kris. “It’s kinda like, exciting, you know…?”
“She said it’s like a horror movie in your mouth.” Kris answered bluntly.
“K-KRIS!!!” Noelle almost shouted as her face went bright red.
“HAHAHAHA!” Susie laughed as she gave a strong pat on Noelle’s back that almost sent her face first into the table. “The good kind of scary, right?”
“Y-yeah… wait, how’d you…?” Noelle gave Susie a confused look.
Susie's eyes widened as she realised her mistake. “Oh uh… Kris’ been talking about you a bit.” Susie gave Kris a glance as if she was drowning.
“Gosh, you two have been talking about…me?” Noelle shifted in her seat.
“Well Berdly too of course” Kris said, seeming to try and salvage the situation.
“Y-yeah, you all have been friends with Kris before I came, right?” Susie stammered out.
“Well, sorta I guess.” Berdly scratch his face with his wing.
“Kris and I go way back, we’ve been…” Noelle froze for a second. “...friends for as long as I can remember.”
“The Holidays and the Dreemurrs have been buddies for a while, only really recently that-” Berdly stopped himself. “Sorry, Noelle, didn’t mean to…”
Noelle sighed. “It’s fine.” She seemed to be finding Berdly apologizing to still be a novel experience.
There was an awkward silence for a period of time before Pizzapants came round with several plates of pizza. “Order’s up.”
Everyone in the group seemed to appreciate the intervention, and began digging into their respective pizzas.
Susie’s face lit up after she took her first bite. “This is REALLY good!” She proceeded to begin devouring the rest in haste.
“I’m glad you like it!” Noelle said in between bites of her own. “I was shocked to hear you’ve never had any before.”
“Well, uh, I just never had the chance I guess…” Susie gulped down the last of her pizza and took a glance at Noelle’s. “Mind if I have a try?”
“W-what mine?” Noelle gave Susie a concerned look. “It’s uh, hot hot. And uh, mostly veggies…”
“You think I’m scared of some spicy plants?!” Susie grabbed a slice off of Noelle’s plate and chomped a big bite out of it. “See? A bit crunchy but not too ba-”
Susie’s face quickly turned a shade of bright pink Kris had never seen before, causing them to snicker briefly. Susie clamped her mouth shut and began waving her arms slightly.
“S-Susie?! You okay?!” Noelle quickly grabbed her milkshake and gave it to Susie, who promptly chugged the rest down in one go.
“GAAAAAAAAH!” Susie yelled as she put down the glass. “Y…you were…eating it so casually…I thought…”
Pizzapants had made a return to the table after hearing the commotion “First rule of Ice-Es, don’t eat Noelle’s pizza.” He placed a big glass of water next to Susie, which she began to sip at. “Girl is borderline psychotic for how hot she likes it I swear.”
“I guess so. I dunno it just… feels warm I guess.” Noelle began chomping away at her Pizza again as Pizzapants sat down at the end of the table.
Berdly looked puzzled. “You uh, sure you’re allowed to sit around on shift?”
“Prob not, but I don’t really care.” Pizzapants turned to Kris with a smile. “So you told Azzy yet little buddy?”
“No. Not yet.” Kris in actuality was wondering what he meant.
“Well Pizzarena and I have been making some moves.” Pizzapants gave Kris big exaggerated eyebrow wiggles. “We’re gonna meet up later after my shift today.”
Berdly looked shocked. “Oh. I was sure you were being messed with.”
Pizzapants leaned back and gave a smug smirk as his phone buzzed. “Well look who’s laughing now, another message from my girlfriend”.
“Heh, whatever man.” Berdly sipped his own water. “I’ll get my own soon enough, just you wait.”
Kris gave both of them a quick glance. Some kind of rivalry between them?
“Take deep breaths Susie, it’ll be alright…” Noelle was practically consoling Susie after her harrowing experience. “I’ll get a less spicy one for you to try next time.” She placed a credit card on the table near Pizzapants. “10% tip as usual.”
Pizzapants quickly glanced away from his phone. “Yeah, yeah. Do that in a sec…” A look of confusion was growing across his face. “Hey uh… would any of you know someone called Elly?”
Susie quickly responded between raspy breaths. “N-nope.” Berdly and Kris both shook their heads.
“How…” Noelle's expression turned deadly serious. “How did they spell it?”
“E-L-L-Y. Said to bring them along, whatever that means? Thought this was meant to be a date.” Pizzapants started to look aggravated.
“I-I…” Noelle quickly stood up, her face having gone pale. “S-sorry I have to go.” Noelle made her way out of the pizzeria with frightening speed.
Pizzapants tried to stand up and stop her. “Ah shit Noelle- and she’s gone, great. Agh, stupid” He smacked his phone lightly on his forehead.
“Is-is she alright?” Susie had stood up, as well as the rest of the group.
“Nah, I messed up.” Pizzapants put his phone in his pocket and turned to the group. “That’s uh… That’s what Dess used to call her.”