AN: Double Chapters as they used to be one.
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POV Rio
When the mist cleared, I was in a wide open area. In the center, I saw a woman standing next to a large sword. The sword radiated immense power and looked very sharp. As I approached, the woman spoke.
"You have passed the trials. You have done well to get this far. Now the Sword of Aeons is yours," said the woman.
"The Sword of Aeons?" I ask.
"This blade has existed since the beginning of creation. It is the last fragment of creation left. With this blade, you can slay the evil that threatens your world," says the woman.
"Really?" I ask, surprised and a bit excited.
"Yes, but I must warn you. In order for it to be strong enough to kill the creature that haunts your world, you will need to awaken the sword," replies the woman.
"How do I awaken it?" I ask.
"It requires the blood of one closest to you," the woman replies.
I freeze and back away from the blade, but before I can say anything, I hear a familiar voice.
"He'll do it," Cait says as she enters the chamber.
"Cait, what are you doing here?" I ask and confirm that she seems to be the real deal.
"What do you mean? You took too bloody long? I've been waitin' for you for several days," Cait says with mock anger.
"If you wish to save your world, then plunge the blade into her heart," says the woman.
"No! I will not do that!" I reply fiercely.
"Sigh. Rio, look at me," Cait says.
I do as she says.
"We both know that we don't have many options. And most of 'em don't seem likely to work. If we do this, we can deal with that monster and actually rebuild," Cait says.
"But you'll die!" I respond.
"Sigh. I've lived long enough to meet you. My life has been shite for a long time, but you gave me the courage to keep going. If I can use me life to ensure you and all our friends get to live to see another day, then so be it," Cait said.
"No, I won't do it. You are my friend. There will be another way," I reply.
"Rio! We both know that's nothin' more than blind hope! And even if by some miracle you find a solution, what would be left by then?" Cait yells.
"I don't care! I will sooner die a million times before I stoop to the level that I must kill those closest to me! Blind hope or not, I will never give up. A single spark of courage can ignite the fires of hope. As long as I keep that fire burning, I won't ever give up," I reply firmly.
"Sigh. You're a damn stubborn fool!" Cait yelled.
"And you're my friend!" I reply with equal volume.
"Fine, do it your way, but don't say I didn't warn you," Cait responds.
"You realize this is likely your only hope to save your world?" the woman says.
"Yes," I replied firmly.
The woman smiles. She, alongside Cait, burst into mist. I was shocked, but before I could respond, I felt the sword in my hands and heard the woman's voice again.
"You are truly worthy of this blade. The sword is now awakened, and you may leave," the woman says.
A door opens, and a bright wall of light appears. I walk towards it and enter through it. When my vision cleared, I found myself in the mist-filled field again, but this time I wasn't alone.
"Ah, it seems I was too late," says the man.
"Too late for what?" I ask.
"The sword. I was sent to find it to hopefully save my world," the man says sadly.
"Who are you? And what's happening to your world?" I ask while putting the sword in a scabbard that came with it.
"I am Larius of Varka, and my world is under siege by a great evil. The creature is some sort of dark god who intends to corrupt my world into his creatures of the void," Larius says.
"Creatures of the void?" I ask.
"That is what we call them, as that is where they come from. They are dark creatures that can turn any man into horrors beyond their wildest imagination," Larius says with a distant look in his eyes.
"What will you do now?" I ask.
"The Sword of Aeons was our last hope. But we will make sure to go down fighting. If they want to take my world, they will suffer as much as we can make them," Larius says with passion.
"What is Varka like?" I ask.
"My home is a lush world. We have been a peaceful society for many years. Food was abundant, and the people were happy... Until the creatures invaded. We lost many people already, we hoped that with time we would recover," Larius said.
I see the fear in his eyes, even with the courage he shows, and I hesitate before deciding what to do.
"Here, take it," I say while handing the Sword of Aeons to Larius.
"What? But surely you need it just as much as I do?" Larius says while trying to reject it.
"Yeah, I do need it, but my world is already mostly dead. From the sounds of it, you still have a world and people left. I will find another way. And if that fails, I can always relocate," I reply.
"A-Are you sure? We likely will never see each other again. And for all you know, I could be lying," Larius says.
"Yes, I am sure. I am also fairly confident in my ability to read people. Which makes me think you aren't lying. Plus, my threat isn't as bad as yours. Mine can still be killed and has to rely on technology to complete their tasks," I say while placing the sword in Larius's hands.
"I-I don't know what to say. This means more than you could ever realize. Thank you," Larius says with genuine gratitude.
"Just go save your world," I reply with a smile.
"I may not have much, but please take this as a sign of gratitude," Larius says while handing me an item.
The item was a compass.
"It was said to lead the user the whatever their heart desires most. It was what brought me to this strange realm. May it lead you to what you desire," Larius says with a smile.
I thank him, and Larius walks away into the mist. I was questioning if what just happened was real. The compass felt very real.
'Well, I suppose I will get my answers eventually.'
I put the compass away and walk into the mist. The usual happens, and the mist eventually fades, bringing me to a new place. This new place was odd. It was a very random and bizarre environment. I keep walking until I reach a place that looks like a Throne Room. Sitting on the Throne is a being that makes me very nervous.
"Well, well, well, who do we have here?" says the glowing triangle.
Sitting on the Throne was Bill Cipher, and I was very confused.
"Don't answer, I already know you, Rio," Bill says.
"Sigh. Why am I here?" I ask.
"Hahahaha, straight to the point, I like you! Well, you see, I'm bored, and to sate my boredom, I want to play a game. It'll be tons of fun! Want to play a game?" Bill asks.
"No, I would rather not," I reply.
"Well, too bad, b*tch!" Bill says before snapping his fingers.
Two bubbles appear, one has my friends and the other has lots of people, some I recognize as Minutemen members.
"The game is called Who gets to die a terrible, horrible death? Patent pending. You play it by choosing who gets to die. Your friends and loved ones or the people you protect?" Bill says while gesturing to each bubble.
"What!? You can't do this!" I yell angrily.
"Oh, but I can! You see, that's the perk of being omnipotent," Bill says with what I imagine is a missile.
"And if I refuse to choose?" I ask.
"Then they both die," Bill says with glee.
I look at both bubbles and realize that I really have no way to stop this.
'I hope this is just a trial.'
"It's not a trial, bub. This is one hundred percent real," Bill says while snapping his fingers and randomly rearranging the position of my limbs, while also taking my wings and horn away.
"I must admit it's been far too long since I got to use a Unicorn Horn file. They do wonders for my nails," Bill says while using my horn to file his nails.
"Now hurry up, I only got eternity to do this?" Bill jokes.
I try and think of a way to fix this, but I quickly realize I can't do anything. It also felt weird to see from my stomach, and my arms were where my eyes used to be. My body could very factually feel the abnormalities in my flesh. I had only one card to play.
"I want to bargain," I reply.
"Bargain? Oh, how cute. Please tell me what weird nonsense you can offer me?" Bill says.
"Take me instead," I offer.
"Please, why would I do that. You are just one thing; there are many. I can get more enjoyment from them than I could ever from you," Bill says.
"I can't die. Not truly. Every time I die, I get sent back to a save point. A being like you would be unaffected, but I am sure you can see the value in a toy that never breaks," I reply.
"Hoh? I suppose that is interesting. It's been far too long since I got to torture an immortal. But you realize that your torment would never end. And if it did, it would be because I decided to annihilate you. Soul and everything," Bill says while staring at me with his massive eye.
"If you leave my friends and people alone, then I am willing," I reply.
"Hmm, that is really tempting. I do love breaking people like you. Always so self-sacrificing. But then they eventually break. But why would you sacrifice yourself for these friends of yours? You can always make more friends, and without your guidance, that world is doomed. That weak skeleton will kill them all anyway," Bill asks.
"My friends will find a way to live without me, but if I choose one of the options, someone will be hurt and will have to live with the guilt that comes with that," I reply firmly.
"Grr. Your home! Your soul! Everything you have worked towards! Even your second life! You would throw all that away for these people?!" Bill says with an angered voice.
"Yes," I reply.
"GRRR. AHHHH FINE! YOU RUINED MY FUN!" Bill yells before he snaps his fingers, and everything goes white.
When my vision clears, I am back in the Dragon's throat, but this time, before me was a being I instantly recognised.
"Discord?" I ask.
"Yes and no. I am more an echo of my great self. But you! You insufferable goody two-shoes. I have been waiting here for over a century, waiting to mess with random explorers that come to claim the treasure. But you had to go and pass all the damn tests! You make me want to be made of flesh again just so I can puke all the love and joy you made witness. Blegh!" Discord says while pointing his finger at his mouth.
"Wait, all those trials were your doing?" I ask.
"Technically, yes. My main body seemed to have it in his mind that anyone getting the treasures of this world should have to suffer. But you ruined it all!" Discord says with a scowl that literally touches the floor.
"Sorry?" I say confusedly.
"Don't apologize! Ugh. You're making me get wrinkles from all this stress. Just get out of here! It's about time I move on and all that," Discord says.
"Move on?" I ask.
"Well, duh, it's clear my main body is already dead. And perma dead if I had to guess. A shame too, this world will be far too boring without him. But this world is too depressing to want to live in anyway. Now, was there anything else I was supposed to tell you?" Discord says while taking a list of paper from his nose and starting to read it.
When Discord turns around, I see that the list is the naughty or nice list with a bold PROPERTY OF THE NORTH POLE stamped at the top.
"Oh, that's what it was. I was supposed to warn you that a Windigo was still alive and you need to head far south to do something or other, blah blah blah. Ecetera ecetera. You get the point," Discord says while rolling up the paper and eating it.
I would question it, but I know he is likely doing it to mess with me.
"Wait, are the Windigos why this world is frozen?" I ask.
"Yep, some stupid mage decided it would be a great idea to cast a mass memory alteration spell to erase Hearth's Warming. Normally, that would be fine, as I or some other powerful magic user could step in and banish the creatures, but that didn't happen. All the villains were sealed or banished. Sunbutt was too busy being depressed to notice, and by the time she did, it was far too late. By the time my great self got free from his stony prison, the Windigos had grown immensely powerful. That's why these trials exist. My real body came here to gather artifacts to equip the Avengers. I mean Team Awesome. Or whatever we called the team. The point is, we failed. All of us died, the Batmobile lost a wheel, and the Joker got away," Discord says with a couldn't be bothered tone.
"Wait, you, Discord, the Lord of Chaos and nearly omnipotent being, couldn't stop the Windigos?" I ask, genuinely confused.
"Being in prison will do that, but beyond that, my great self was the SPIRIT of Disharmony and Chaos. Meaning our power was the literal essence of Chaos. There was not a lot of chaos in the world when we got free. So, thus, little power to draw from. Then we used power to make these trials, so yeah, we failed. Now, if you are done pestering me with questions, I would like to stop existing now. This world is really depressing, and the less time I have to spend here, the better," Discord says with an annoyed tone.
"Was Larius real?" I ask.
"Huh? Oh, you mean that warrior. If you want the answer, why don't you check your pocket?" Discord says with a smile.
I pat my pocket and feel something. When I look down, I realize the compass was still there. When I looked back up, Discord was gone. I had more questions, but that was fine. He answered the most important ones.
'At least my sacrifice wasn't for nought.'
With that thought, I kept walking through the dragon's corpse.