My World

Once upon a time, there lives two siblings. One is a black knight with a silver skull embedded on their chest and one gold-and black Digimon on all fours. The siblings were born in the deepest and darkest of the Dark Area. Together since birth, they saw death in the face everyday, not knowing what is love, compassion, kindness, and beauty. A perfect whetstone to sharpen the eventually jogressed siblings into a single being with a giant axe, golden horns, and glowing yellow eyes. They called themself DarkKnightmon.

With their tremendous power, GranDracmon granted them permission to break through the doors of the Dark Area into the surface of Digital World where they can spread fear and darkness into Digimon’s heart. 

But, seeing the environment that they never witnessed since birth surprises them. During their small visit to a village, they saw nothing but smiles and happiness. A feeling very alien to him. 

Driven by curiosity, they tried to mimic what citizens do. But, the response wasn't exactly… friendly. At first, the villagers were intimidated and scared of them, they avoided the poor dark knight who passed by and tried to mimic their greetings. Lost and confused by the villagers’ responses, the dark knight starts to feel another alien feeling in their heart; loneliness. 

But soon, one villager stood up to face them, he was a small red lizard-like Digimon, he was called Shoutmon. He told the villagers that the dark knight isn't dangerous and to greet them with smiles too. Shoutmon also treated the dark knight kindly, he welcomed them into the village, he gave them delicious food to eat, he introduced the dark knight to his friends. That village was called the Village of Smiles, eventually, thanks to Shoutmon’s efforts, the dark knight became part of the village and was loved by everyone. With that, the dark knight felt another genuine emotion welling up inside them: happiness. 

However, the lord of the Dark Area was displeased with this, he decided to teach the dark knight a lesson by sending out the strongest Nightmare Soldiers to bring ruin into the village they loved so much. 

The Forest of God is not as holy as some usually described, it is rather an eerie place with very few holy type digimons living there to seek peace and evil digimons left there to atone for their sins. Travellers can easily get lost in the forest and can only hope Xuanwumon and his devoted subordinates would guide them back home, the island is never a destination for vacations no matter how beautiful it looks. 

For a group of lost children, the island was a living hell to them. It all started from playing chase but they strayed too far from home, and soon after they were attacked by a group of low-level bandits and before they knew it, they reached the point of no return. 

The leader and the eldest, DORUmon has been trying his best to look after his childhood friends: the hot headed and courageous Agumon, the shy and timid Gabumon, and the immature and wild Guilmon. Before, they were taken care under a gentle MetalTyrannomon inside a stray children’s shelter and lived happily. But now, they are trying their best to find their way home somehow. The children are already tired, hungry, and their voices are dry from arguing. 

DORUmon collects a small amount of red fruits, then passes it over to the rest of his group, “Here, our dinner for tonight,” the purple furry dragon announced.

“Crimson berries again?” Agumon whined, “There should be at least a pond full of fishes down here!” 

“Found nothing,” DORUmon shrugged. “Eat this or starve,”

“Mmmph okay, but I want meat…” Agumon rolled the berries over his palm, before taking one into his mouth. “It's been a week since I had them,”

Guilmon followed the protest, “Guilmon wants meat too…” he stares at his food gloomily. 

Gabumon only nodded in agreement, not wishing to say anything else. 

DORUmon gritted his teeth in frustration, “Then why don't you look for one yourself?! Why is it always my fault we're not eating nice things while all you guys did are just whine?!” He snapped.

Silence. Agumon usually would shoot back at him but his stomach is just too empty to give him such energy to do  that. 

Guilmon lowers his head in guilt, “Sorry, Guilmon… bad?”

“No! It’s just… it’s just… aargh!” DORUmon slammed his tail to the ground. “I’m sorry Guilmon… I didn’t mean to get angry,”

Gabumon meekly speaks up, “N-now now, DORUmon has been taking Ms. MetalTyranomon’s place to care for us since we left, right? It’s not fair to w-weight him more than he already is,” 

Agumon frowned, “Ugh, you’re right. I’m sorry, DORUmon,” 

DORUmon shook his head. “No, I’m sorry for raising my voice, especially to Guilmon,” he turns and gently scratches the crimson lizard’s chin, who giggled and nuzzled DORUmon’s hand in return. “He’s still very young, just evolved from his baby form. I have to take responsibility and look after him, not scolding him,”

“...And suddenly he’s the tallest among us,” Agumon sneered, then shoving every fruit on his palm into his mouth. “You have nothing to apologize, DORUmon. It’s not your responsibility alone to protect Guilmon too, you know?” 

DORUmon smiled, “Thank you, Agumon,”

“Guilmon can protect himself!” the crimson lizard protested. “Ms. MetalTyranomon said Guilmon is now stronger, and can beat up bad guys! Remember, Guilmon was the one who took out that Gizmon,”

Agumon laughed and ruffled Guilmon’s head. “We get it, we get it, you’re a big boy now,” 

“Guilmon not a baby anymore!” he protested

“Then what’s with that speech pattern?” Agumon teased. “Doesn’t sound like a grown man to me,” 

Gabumon breathed out in relief, the fight ended shorter than usual. He usually couldn’t stand the two being at each other’s neck, worst case happened they fought about it until both were in tears. 

———

After the children finished eating, they turned off the bonfire and leaned on a huge tree behind the bushes where they rested. Guilmon and Agumon already fell asleep and snoring louder than a Greymon’s roar, while DORUmon is left with his thoughts. He slowly ran his claw along the softer soil, creating a map of their progress in the Forest of Gods. 

“We haven’t encountered any strong enemy digimon yet, but it’s only a matter of time,” DORUmon muffled. “Everyone is getting thinner… how long can we really last…?”

Suddenly, Gabumon spoke up from his pretended slumber, “DORUmon, you’re not tired yet?”

“Gabumon?! I’m fine, go back to sleep,” startled, DORUmon lifts his head. 

“Actually, I can’t sleep…” Gabumon rubbed his eyes. “Can’t stop thinking about this place. I got really bad feelings from it…”

“Me either,” DORUmon sways his tail in desperation. “I have yet to see a village nor a building,”

Gabumon swirled up in the fetal position. “Will we… die here?” 

DORUmon gritted his teeth, “No… we won’t. I promise… we will go home,” he shook his head. 

“How?” The fur coated digimon sank his head in. “Ms. MetalTyranomon didn’t even know where we were,” the tone of Gabumon’s voice gets shakier as he speaks.

“I’ll find a way… somehow,” DORUmon squinted. “There can’t be any digimon on this island, you know? Even if we meet bandits, they have nothing to steal from us. They don’t even know who’s our foster parent,” 

Gabumon muttered, “You’re right,”

Gathering the remaining confidence he has, DORUmon forced a smile, “Just don’t worry, okay? I’m here to protect Agumon, Guilmon, and you after all!” 

As if Gabumon can read through his friend’s smile, he rubs his eyes to fight back the tears, “...Sorry, DORUmon. I’ve been useless…”

DORUmon lets out a soft chuckle. “Useless? If it wasn’t for you I don’t know who can stop Agumon from running around recklessly,” the purple digimon wraps his soft tail around Gabumon. “We need each other, Gabumon. Now, get some rest, we’ll look for more food in the next area tomorrow,” DORUmon gently petting Gabumon’s head, soothing him to sleep.

“You too…” Gabumon replied with a dozier voice. 

“Then who’s gonna be on guard?” DORUmon smiles dryly. “Don’t worry about me. I’m the oldest here,”

Before Gabumon can argue, the blue-pelt lizard already drifted off to sleep, leaving DORUmon alone to guard them.

———

The next morning, the children are woken up by a loud noise from the distance, startling even the dozy DORUmon. They see some trees being thrown down and the sound of clashing weapons, they were so surprised by the situation that they didn’t realize Guilmon reverted back to his Gigimon form. 

“Wh--?! Who’s making noises this early?” Agumon pushes Gigimon that has been leaning on him aside, followed by his whining. 

Gabumon hugs his own torso in fear, “I-I-I thought we’re in the most quiet part of the a-area...?”

DORUmon quickly snapped out of his temporary snore and said with a louder voice, “I… don’t think this place is safe anymore! Everyone, follow me!” he subconsciously picks up Gigimon and jumps through the bushes while Agumon and Gabumon follows from behind. 

“Oh come on, we just HAD danger yesterday…!” Agumon complained while brushing off leaves from his face. “Uugh, now I understand why Ms. MetalTyranomon always scolds me when I’m going too far from home..!!”

“W-WELL YOU MIGHT REALIZE THAT A LITTLE TO LAAAAATE!!” Gabumon cried out in fear from what’s behind.

“YOU TWO JUST BE SILENT FOR A WHILE..!!!” DORUmon yelled.

Gigimon only flails his little limbs around. “Guilmon feels small again…?” 

The young digimon only ran and run and run aimlessly, only trying to avoid the loud noise that could be possibly dangerous. DORUmon took whatever path is narrow for any creature larger than them. 

Eventually, the children stopped in front of a giant lake leading to a deeper part of the forest, the noises eventually died out and DORUmon decided they’ll take a rest here. 

As DORUmon sets Gigimon down, he is surprised to look over his form, “Guilmon! You… reverted back to your baby form!”

Agumon and Gabumon, who just realized the changes gasped at the same time.

“I guess it’s because… he was too weak to maintain his child form, that’s weird…” Gabumon carefully observed the younger child with his hand. “He’s just a year younger than me…!”

“Gabu Gabu, it tickles!” Gigimon giggled and rolled around. 

“Everyone has their time,” DORUmon shrugged. “Back to our main focus, I think we’ll be safe here,”

“We stopped at a lake! Lucky!!” Agumon cheered and jumped around. “We can fish for some food!!” 

“A-Agumon! But you can’t swim!” Gabumon meekly pointed out. 

“Who says I’m the one doing the fishing?” Agumon winked at his best friend. “Remember when Guil… I mean Gigimon almost drowned in a pool?”

“What’s… what’s your point?” 

“Gigimon remember remember! Gabu Gabu is Gigimon’s knight!!” Gigimon wags his tail in happiness.

Embarrassed, Gabumon scratches the back of his head, “Uuuh…. Why do you have to bring that back, Agumon!”

“My point is you were the only one from all of us who can swim!” Agumon goes up and tugs on Gabumon’s pelt. “Come on! I’ve been starving for some fishies!”

“What…?! But I’m still… tired from running,” Gabumon sighed.

“Agumon, calm down for a second. We’ll eventually get some food!” DORUmon pats Agumon’s shoulder. 

“Fine then, but right now I want to get something to eat! Maybe there’s a tree with meat apples nearby….” Agumon turns his back and starts attempting to walk into the woods. 

“Meat apples?! Gigimon wants one too!!” Gigimon jumped around Agumon and tailed him behind. 

“Hey, you two—! Stop wandering around on your own!” DORUmon exclaimed and tried to catch up, but alas, Agumon and Gigimon already entered the woods. 

“Uuu, we must follow them…!” Gabumon who now starts to worry for his reckless friends suggested.

As they go deeper, Agumon and Gigimon slow their footsteps. 

“Aaaaugh…. that’s weird, I can’t see any tree with fruits,” Agumon lets out a disappointed groan.

“Where did DORU get the berries…?” Gigimon frowned and his eyes wandered at the trees that stand tall before him.

“This was a mistake,” Agumon crosses his arm. “Let’s go back, Gigim—!?”

“AGUU, WATCH OUUUUT!!” His world was cut by Gigimon tackling Agumon aside. Both children hit and fell to the tree nearby. 

Before Agumon can protest, he sees a small katana stabbed into the ground and is surprised.

“What… what the… h—!”

Gigimon covers Agumon’s mouth before he can finish. “No bad words!”

“Does it matter now?!” Agumon shoves Gigimon aside. “Who’s there?!” Then, he stands up and shields Gigimon. 

From the trees, the one who just ambushed the two shows up their form. It’s a small dragon digimon covered in dark purple armor and a red jewel on his forehead. From his posture and looks, he seems to be the same age as DORUmon. 

“That shot was just a warning,” The digimon shouted, “You shall not pass this area any further!”

“We were just looking for food!!” Agumon replied. 

“Ahead is the sacred place of Xuanwumon, I can’t let you stranger pass,” the armored dragon glared down at Agumon. “Even if you’re child level, I still won’t hold back if you fight,”

“Feh… so cocky! Who are you anyway?? You seem like a child-level digimon like me too!” Agumon growled. 

“My name is Ryudamon, child of Sir Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode,” Ryudamon introduced himself. “Now, away with it!”

“A-Agu and Gigimon are just looking for food…!” Gigimon slowly steps to the front. “We don’t mean bad!”

Ryudamon only replied with a hostile squint, “Ha! Like I’d fall for that!” Then he opened his mouth and shouted, “Iaijin!” 

Immediately, from Ryudamon’s mouth, it shoots out an iron blade covered in yellow light that directly about to hit Agumon, 

Unprepared, Agumon immediately focuses on protecting Gigimon...

But then…

“Metal Cannon!”

An iron ball hits the blade, making the weapon bounce away from its original target, surprising the three digimons. Then, as they turn their heads to where it came from...

“Agumon! Gigimon!! Are you okay?!” DORUmon is seen running to them and Gabumon can be seen tailing him behind.

“DORUmon!!” Gigimon cheered. 

“DORUmon!” Pleasantly surprised, Agumon smiled widely. “You came for us!”

“Agumon…! Gigimon….!” Gabumon huffed while running to Agumon. “I’m… I’m glad you two are okay…! Huaaahh….!”

“I told you not to wander off on your own!” DORUmon scolds them, then turns his head to Ryudamon. “You…! What are you trying to pull here?! They’re just young children!!”

“My job is to keep away all intruders that dares to enter the sacred place! Don’t get in my way— huh….?” As Ryudamon glared back at DORUmon, he suddenly noticed something.

“....?”

“That thing… on your forehead!” Ryudamon suddenly stopped his movement. “Must it be…!”

“Ryudamon, they’re innocent. Let them go,” suddenly, a bigger and heavier voice came from behind Ryudamon. 

“That voice…!” Ryudamon turned his head to the back.

Before the children, there stood a larger digimon. Their size is twice, or even more combined with all the children’s heights. They wear all white armor with a gold crown on their head and several parts of their armor, the digimon also has a large sword stored on a sheath. 

“Sir Imperialdramon!” Ryudamon called their name. “But… but they’re not priests and about to enter Xuanwumon’s area! They’re trespassers!”

“Now, calm down,” Imperialdramon shook his head, then kneels down so that his eyes can meet the children’s. “Are you all lost? Where do you come from?”

The children simply was very intimidated, but then, Agumon exclaimed,

“AAAAHH!! A-a-are you… Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode??? THE Imperialdramon…?! THE Digital World Hermit…?!”

“Keep your manners around him, fiend!!” Ryudamon angrily lashed out. 

DORUmon acted quickly and hit Agumon’s head with his fist. “Hey! Don’t weird them out than we already do!”

“Hahaha, it’s okay, Ryudamon, DORUmon,” Imperialdramon simply chuckled. “Yes, my name is Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode. I have travelled the Digital World for thousands of years. And this is my disciple and my child, Ryudamon. Pardon for his rudeness, he’s just doing his best to protect the holy land of Xuanwumon,” 

Before Agumon could complain about Ryudamon and DORUmon, the purple furry lizard halted him and asked in confusion, “How… how do you know my name?”

“The mark on your head,” Imperialdramon pointed out. 

DORUmon touches the red gem on his forehead, “You mean… this? Ryudamon also said something about it,”

“You. I’ve been searching for you years and years… ever since you were an egg,” Imperialdramon PM observes closer. “Valkyriemon said there were two eggs… formatted from the data of ancient digimons by Yggdrasil… those eggs were you and Ryudamon,” 

“I… I thought I was an orphaned egg… that Ms. MetalTyranomon took care of…” startled, DORUmon can only whisper under his breath. 

“Wow… uh…. I don’t know how to process all these but… you’re basically… something special?” Gabumon asked.

Imperialdramon continued, “I couldn’t find your egg, but I found Ryudamon. I took care of him since. You and Ryudamon… were destined to be together someday,” 

“Imperialdramon’s right,” Ryudamon jumped off the tree and approached DORUmon. “You are my Master, and I’m your tool. I’ve been waiting forever to meet you,” 

“T-tool…?! Wait… wait!” DORUmon backed off. “What do you mean… by tool?!”

“That's what I said,” Ryudamon stated. “Valkyriemon told me I’m destined to be your tool. Now that I found you, I am obligated to serve under you.”

“Valkyrie...mon did?” still confused, DORUmon squinted his eyes. “Who’s Valkyriemon?”

“Didn’t legends and fairy tales tell you about him?” Imperialdramon PM asked while chuckled. “Servant of the first Cherubimon, now his nowhere is unknown,”

“Oh! Oh! I know!” Agumon raises his hands like a school child. “Ms. MetalTyranomon always reads a storybook about him for me and Gabumon!”

“Agumon’s right. If I remember right… Valkyriemon loved and devoted to his lord Cherubimon so much he’d trade his life for him,” Gabumon added. “Now his nowhere is unknown… it’s like he only existed in fairytales nowadays…”

Agumon’s eyes start to shine “So is Valkyriemon a real deal—?! Ouch!!” 

“Agumon, you’re being too inappropriate!!” DORUmon shushed him after hitting him on the head again. 

“You don’t have to do that—!” Agumon whined.

Imperialdramon PM only chuckled upon seeing the acts of the children and said, “Nay, you don’t have to straighten yourself in front of me, children of destiny,”

Gabumon, who is slightly confused at Imperialdramon’s wordings asked, “Children… of destiny…? You mean… us?”

“I almost forgot to tell you another thing,” Imperialdramon PM’s face turned serious. “As he told me about DORUmon’s circumstances, he also told me about three other children that soon will rise to defend the Digital World along DORUmon…”

“You mean… me, Gabumon, and Gigimon…?” Agumon asked.

“Could be it,” Imperialdramon said, “Valkyriemon possess a power of future sight, we might have to take you there,”

“Oooh! Oooh! That’s so cool!!” Agumon jumped in joy. “We’re the chosen one…!!!” 

“Don’t get too excited yet,” Ryudamon crosses his arms. “We don’t know unless if Valkyriemon confirms it,” 

“For sure, Valkyriemon said there will be saviors who will rise to save the Digital World from destruction, and I’m tasked to bring them together,” then, Imperialdramon explained. “Say, child, would you come with us?”

Agumon’s eyes sparkled and he jumped with joy, “Of course—!”

“Agumon! Ms. MetalTyranomon first!” DORUmon quickly shushed the yellow lizard again. “I’m very sorry, Sir Imperialdramon…! We appreciate the offer, but unfortunately, we really have to go home,”

Gigimon nodded and chimed in. “Guilmon… umm… Gigimon misses Ms. MetalTyranomon….”

“Haha! Of course you do, chosen one,” Imperialdramon scratches his chin. “Don’t you worry, I shall take you home firsthand,” 

“He’s right,” Ryudamon added. “He always told me that family is always a priority,”

“R-really…?! You have my utmost thanks, Sir Imperialdramon, Ryudamon!” DORUmon bows down.

“Lord DORUmon, please lift your head,” flustered, Ryudamon waves his hands. “No need to thank us,”

“‘Lord DORUmooonn’?” Agumon jerked his body forward DORUmon. “Wow, never thought you’re suddenly some kind of lord!” 

“Do not speak to him so rudely, fiend!” Ryudamon angrily steps forward to Agumon.

“Oh so I’m ‘fiend’?! I’m HIS childhood friend and you just met him! Don’t get too friendly with him!” Agumon twitched his eyes and replied angrily. “Plus, since I’m equal to DORUmon why can’t you call me lord too—!”

“A-Agumon, please stop!” Gabumon grabs Agumon by the hand and pulls him back.

“Why should I call you ‘Lord’? Lord DORUmon is my only master!” Ryudamon steps forward and shields DORUmon with his hand. 

“U-um…. I still don’t know how to react to this whole ‘Lord’ or ‘Master’ thing….” DORUmon nervously muttered. 

As the children argue with each other, Imperialdramon can only respond with a chuckle like an elderly digimon. 

They’re the chosen ones huh. He thought. Fate sure leads us to interesting things.

Being summoned means you were forcibly taken away from where you were originally, including dragons, Nidhogg, the ruler of death himself were not an exception. He was taken away from his original place in Rotten Spring, in a place where any flesh except for his would dissolve quickly. Due to his summoning contract, he was bound to serve a prince in a halidom. It’s not like he cares. It was getting boring in the Rotten Spring anyway.

He has no idea who in their right mind would summon an omen of disaster such as himself, but here he is, in flesh. Was the prince desperately in need of power? Or is it out of whim? Whatever the reason is, Nidhogg was needed, much to his surprise. 

Whenever a dragon is summoned to the castle, the prince asks them for a pact, which most dragons agreed to, some who don’t are returned back to where they are. Nidhogg simply agreed to the pact and he was assigned to some human, much to almost everyone at the halidom’s horror. They thought the prince went mad, again, some thought he was desperate to fight the Empire, and many other speculations. But the prince sees good in Nidhogg somehow, and wanted to redeem him by having him join his kingdom in New Alberia, which Nidhogg cares little about, as long as the prince knows the consequence and won’t complain about it later. 

As soon the death dragon agreed to the pact, the prince will take him to the human who will be bound to him. Most adventurers refuse him for a good reason, however, there’s one interesting adventurer who’s willing to accept and Nidhogg is surprised by this fact, it is Nefaria. 

Her appearance is that of a royalty and whenever Nidhogg is bound to her by shapeshifting, he feels some kind of void of emptiness and loneliness, that could be Nefaria’s soul. The feeling is very much new to Nidhogg. 

Despite Nidhogg’s curiosity, the two barely spoke to each other. The prince told them to bond for longer time shapeshifting, but Nidhogg is too prideful to ask anything of the queen. Nefaria herself is a woman of few words, she only brought him his favorite gifts and sometimes sit down besides him, leaning her body close to the dragon, for a reason Nidhogg doesn’t understand, but he lets her do it anyway, it’s not like she can do any harm to him. Even if she were, Nidhogg could just blow her into dust in a blink of an eye.

Until one day, Nidhogg is in stand by for shapeshifting when Nefaria is dispatched on a mission, he looks over her from a looking glass so that he’ll be ready whenever Nefaria is about to shapeshift into him. He noticed something strange as Nefaria takes hits from every fiend. She’s bleeding, but she didn’t even flinch, being ambushed by many fiends and receiving blow after blow didn’t make flinch. Until she’s bleeding everywhere, she didn’t even notice it herself. Her teammates screamed in worry over her, but she cared little for herself. 

Is she even human? Nidhogg thought to himself. 

At one point, Nefaria is completely surrounded by fiend and separated from her teammates. 

“Tch…,” the queen simply clicked her tongue. As she suffers from blood loss, her wobbly hands lift up her bow and arrows, readying to shoot anyone who come near her. But Nidhogg knows at this point, it’s impossible to engage further in combat. She needs his help.

It’s not like he cares… but… 

“Foolish human,” Nidhogg finally speaks to Nefaria through the glass. “For how much longer you’re going to hold off that wound? Let me take over you for a bit,” 

“Nidhogg…?!” Nefaria looks up to see the source of the voice, but she immediately remembers he speaks through her soul by the moment they form a pact.

“You have no time to waste,” Nidhogg squinted. “Quickly, if you want to live,” 

“I’m already dead,” Nefaria replied with a sad voice. “But I don’t want to worry my friends even further. Come to me, dragon! Lend me your power!”

Huh? Nidhogg flinched. But he got no time to think about it, he has been called for shapeshifting.

And so they did.

--

After the mission, Nefaria collapsed and was immediately treated by a healer. It was a messy situation.

Nidhogg returned to his roost and boredom. But his mind is full. He’s thinking about how much Nefaria wasn’t in pain even when she was receiving so many blows onto her body and her word before she was transforming into him.

I’m already dead

What does she mean by that? Nidhogg thought. But what’s most puzzling about the event was how Nidhogg was actually trying to save her.

Empathy. It’s a feeling new to him. But why does he feel that way? Why he can’t stand seeing her being hurt this way by the fiends? Was it a mere pity? Or is it something else that his heart has been missing for centuries?

Nefaria was the only adventurer beside the prince who would accept him for who he is, she always brought him treats and books as gifts. He even lets her lean on his body, for a reason unknown even to himself. Does the dragon of death long for an interaction? 

He remembered his last one being a human who was sent to die in Rotten Spring. For an odd reason, that human wasn’t scared of Nidhogg. If anything, he was casually asking questions to the dragon… and he feared no pain that is ravaging his body. Same as Nefaria. 

The woman feels nothing when wounds are all over her body, the only thing that’s stopping her from further reckless actions are the concerns of her allies and Nidhogg’s calling. 

“Nidhogg,” the dragon’s thoughts was interrupted when a familiar voice called his name.

“Ah, curious human,” Nidhogg answered the call.

“I brought you another compelling book and your favorite treats,” Nefaria offers him a huge chunk of meat and a book. “And…. if you’d like, I want to sit by your side again,”

“Do as you please,” Nidhogg replied. He notices Nefaria’s body and limbs are wrapped by bandages. “You seem pretty beaten up, human,” 

“I’m alright now, thank you for the concern,” Nefaria smiles as she placed the gifts in front of him. 

“I’m not,” The dragon answers bluntly. “It’ll be a trouble if you die,”

“I've died once, Nidhogg,” Nefaria sat down beside the dragon and rested her head on the bottom of Nidhogg’s neck. “You can feel my body temperature, right?”

“Cold,” Nidhogg mumbles. “I always thought it’s because of the weather,”

“The weather is fine,” Nefaria closes her eyes and feels the breeze flowing through her hair and skin. “My body is like this all the time, no matter the condition,”

“You are indeed the odd one,” Nidhogg told the queen. “Whenever our souls become one via shapeshifting, I always felt hollow… as if yours is the oblivion itself,” 

“It’s because I’m already dead, Nidhogg,”

“I don’t get it,”

“I once lived in a ruined sand kingdom. I died once, but I was revived, I don’t know if it’s a curse or a punishment for me… but here I am, moving and talking like normal human being… but I’m also not,” 

“...I see,” Nidhogg lowered his head. 

“You may wonder, ‘what does death feels like’ or ‘what comes after it’, right?”

Surprised that she predicted his curiosity, Nidhogg asked. “What do you know of me, human?”

“We’ve been pact bound for a while, of course I know you a little,” Nefaria lets out a dry chuckle. “And I’ve heard of your tales when I was alive too. You brings misfortune and death everywhere, but now that we’ve been living in the same halidom for a while, I know it’s not really the case,”

“Hmp,” Nidhogg turns his head away. “How naive,”

“Not as you think,” Nefaria gave him a smile. “I know how it feels like to have a lack of interaction with the world. After my death, I spoke to barely anybody until I met the prince, and everyone at the halidom. They make me feel… warm and alive. Don’t you think?”

“No,” Nidhogg answers bluntly. “But you truly are a curious one, wanting to be close to the dragon of death and misfortune such as myself,” 

“I told you, I’m already dead, whatever you brought upon me will not affect me,” Nefaria closes her eyes. “We make quite a pair, don’t we?”

He is not the one to make friends and he is not here to make friends, definitely. He is called the ‘Cunning God of Death’ in his own world. He committed many atrocities in the name of himself until one day received an unknown letter from the World of Light.

Ah. I see. This is my call for an even more battle to death…! I accept this! 

He also heard that his arch nemesis aka the little girl called Samus is also joining the World of Light battles. And he couldn’t wait to destroy her once and for all!

So he thought. 

And how foolish of him to think that's all there is to it. 

They promised me endless thrilling near-death battles!! 

So

How did I end up like thiiiiis?!?!?

Ridley thought as he sat down in a casual dining room at one dinner night. For how many times has he thought about that? He couldn’t count anymore. This damned ‘Smash Mansion’ built by Master Hand is nothing but a base filled with nothing but fighters who are obnoxious, goody-two shoes who abide by the rules, and the children… ugh… the children. He usually thinks they’re sinless and okay, but these children are driving him up the wall. They keep asking him to carry them on his back or play with them. Ridley hates it and whenever he tries to tell them to buzz off, they use their most powerful weapon to make him obey them; Samus. 

The Samus that he met in the World of Light is different than the one where he came from. This Samus claimed she has slain him for good and knows every trick he has on his sleeve, much to his horror, and she’s not joking. Whenever Ridley tries to act out of the boundary of rules, her shots are always an inch apart from absolutely pulverizing his skull. 

However, he found an acquaintance with some fellow ‘bad guys’ of the Smash Mansion and it’s nice to have a group to vent your frustrations to. It’s a rare feeling that he never felt before during his time in Space Pirate. And they’re all wicked like him… which suits him just fine. 

Ridley thinks this life kind of sucks, but could’ve been worse. He sighed as he took another slurp of the ramen in front of him.

Tonight is the night they welcome a new fighter in the World of Light: Min Min! She’s a young lass who owned a ramen restaurant back in her world, and out of her peers, she manages to win an invitation to the World of Light. For Min Min, this is important, she wants to promote her family’s restaurant more and more, even if it were to expand to another dimension and world.

Yeah. That’s noble of her, so Ridley thought. At least for celebration, he got delicious food that isn’t usually served in Smash Mansion. Maybe with Min Min’s arrival, the current chefs of the mansion would learn a thing or two from her. 

Speaking of the two chefs, they're really taking notes out of this foreign dish that is not from their world. The two chefs are twins from the dimension of Fire Emblem: Bereto and Beresu. Their real names are Byleth, but it’d be confusing if they both are called Byleth, so they all agreed to be called by their nickname from their fathers. 

Both Byleths are like robots, Ridley thought. They barely emote and always observe others. They have tendencies to give someone random things or search for lost items to give to someone in the Mansion. When they first met Ridley, they immediately raised their weapons until Mario had to stop them, telling them that they’re not one of those… ‘crest monster’ or whatever they thought Ridley is. 

They also have high curiosity and desire to learn more, given that they’re both professors at an academy back in their world. The children love to learn from them, and the Byleths seems to love them too, which is a relief for Ridley, so they would leave him the hell alone.

The Byleths also seem to get along with most Smash Mansion members, with Bereto getting along with the men and Beresu getting along with the ladies. Bereto tends to flock more to the baddies group for some reason while Beresu keeps getting pampered by the few lady members, given makeup or cute dresses. Ah, same fate as Dark Samus. Beresu and Dark Samus would get along for sure. 

As for Bereto, the men of Smash Mansion love to have fishing-off with him. Whether they’re villains or heroes, Bereto takes on challenges with open arms. So far, him and the Animal Crossing world Villagers are on par fishing skill wise. For those who prefer thrilling battles with Bereto like Ridley, he is offering his sword too… or three of the legendary relics from his world. Ridley thought a mere human with a sword like him is an easy opponent, just like any other humans he faced in Smash Mansion. 

And that leads him to his downfall. And something more. 

Once, Ridley challenged Bereto in a battle at Garreg Mach. Bereto, with his students cheering on him from behind, is seen more alive than he usually is during his time in the Smash Mansion which Ridley doesn’t get the feeling. 

Ridley thought it's just gonna be an easy match. No problem. Just like fighting Marth, Roy, Lucina, and Chrom. No problem, right? 

And he thought wrong.

Damn, what is he made of?! That was Ridley’s last thought before he was slashed with Bereto’s demon lance Areadbhar and was thrown off stage..

GAME!!!

THE WINNER IS…. BYLETH!

However…

A whip-like sword catches Ridley’s waist right in time before he can meet his doom. There is no ultimate death in the World of Light, but falling off-stage can be a very painful experience. 

Huh?

Ridley feels a strong pull from above and he eventually was thrown on the stage. He felt slight pain on his body from the impact, but it’s not as big a surprise as what Bereto did to him. 

“Hurrgh…?!?” Ridley groaned.

“Are you okay?” with a monotonous voice, Bereto approaches the beaten up dragon. 

Despite his initial shock, he tried to be cunning like himself, “Hah! Your pity would just cause you your li—!!” As he turned his head and tail to impale Bereto, time seemed like it stopped and his vision darkens.

When Ridley blinked he saw Bereto parry his tail with the dagger on his hips. Before Ridley can do anything, Bereto lets go of the Sword of Creator that currently binds Ridley and summons his axe Aymr and swings it down with two of his hands. Ridley thought, Oh crap, before Bereto stopped barely at Ridley’s neck and Bereto’s foot stepped on Ridley’s tail that unfortunately landed on his chest. 

Being tied up with the Sword of Creator and being stepped on… while he has an axe pointed to his throat, this is a rather awkward situation for Ridley. 

“You lose, Ridley. Give it up,” Bereto declared. “Don’t make me use another divine pulse,” 

“My my, isn’t using divine pulse cheating… professor?” Ridley said in a mocking tone in his last word. 

“You didn’t hear the announcer do you? The battle’s over,” Bereto sighed. “You don’t want me to call Samus over, right?”

Ridley immediately shuddered. “... Pah, you win, Bereto,” 

“Alright. That was a good match, Ridley. Thank you,” Then, Bereto surprisingly cracked out a smile. Slight smile. And Ridley saw that. 

And that was the first smile that melted through the steel wall inside Ridley’s heart.