The area was a nightmare. Black spikes. Blood covering everything like a giant red lake. Hysteria bled into her mind.
Rhenvar had transformed again.
But this time was different.
Before, he was wild, uncontrolled. But now…
A villain lunged at Bunnygirl, only to be crushed by Rhenvar's tail.
(He is still protecting me.)
But the heroes who came… they don't know that.
(Villains, heroes and that pink cat fighting together, against him. Why? How? Rhenvar isn't the enemy.)
(I have to tell them. I have to warn them.)
("Feed.")
The whisper echoed. Her knees buckled.
(This was his power. The more he fights, the stronger he grows. And the weaker everyone else becomes.)
"Oh, this is totally final boss material here!" The catgirl cackled from the rooftop. "This raid fight is crazy Nya~!"
Rhenvar roared and vomited black flames, incinerating both heroes and villains in an instant.
(I can't stay here. I feel like I'm dying. And Rhenvar said, if I die, the world will die too.)
Then she hopped.
Not to escape. To survive.
(He could protect me, but even in his presence, I felt my life draining. Still… I could tell. He was different now. He only struck those who attacked first.)
She stopped.
(How could I help? Who would even help him? What if he dies becau-)
Suddenly-
Electricity crackled ahead, and a man in blue tech armor with glowing white lights dropped from the sky.
(Variable?)
(No. A drone? A clone?)
"Apex Nova, commencing operation. Destroy the Worldheart."
(What? Worldheart?)
(If what Rhenvar said is true… he's here to kill me.)
(What does a hero do when hunted?)
(Do I fight? Do I kill?)
(Is my life worth more than his?)
(No. No life is worth taking.)
She ran. Then hopped. Faster and faster.
A shockwave slammed her into a building. Blood hit her lips, she wasn't even struck directly. Just the aftershock.
Apex landed. Jetpack hissing.
"Worldheart confirmed. Proceeding with the mission."
He raised his weapon.
Then-
"Oh my, I do love tainted souls. Their screams are so delicious."
(It was her. The woman who killed Blue Zipper.)
Her scythe swept through the air, knocking Apex away.
(Why… why was she helping me?)
Corvessa giggled, rubbing her fingers across her lips.
"The soul man, such lovely bone he made because he challenged me! Shame the ice girl froze herself."
(Ice Maiden is incapacitated and Spirit Deer is dead?)
"But you, naughty boy, you interrupted my conversation with this sweet little crow."
Bunnygirl turned-
An old woman lay unconscious nearby. She hopped toward her.
(I have to save her.)
"Anyone who interferes with my primary objective will be obliterated," Apex growled.
(This was my chance.)
Bunnygirl scooped the woman up, as gently as she could, and ran.
(She might have internal injuries. Still, I have to move.)
The old woman stirred.
"Ma'am, are you hurt? I'll take you to the nearest hospital."
She touched Bunnygirl's cheek, eyes barely open.
"I feel no pain, young one."
"Oh, thank God…" She let out a shaky breath and sat down.
(But something wasn't right.)
(Was the Crow Queen… protecting this woman?)
"Ma'am… can I ask? Why were you and the Crow Queen talking?"
"You mean the turquoise eyed girl?" She said softly. "Yes… troubled soul, that one. I only told her she was scared to be alone. And that love is earned… not forced."
(Love?)
(That woman, Corvessa, she said she loved Rhenvar.)
(If she finds him again-)
(If she does to him what she did to Blue Zipper-)
(No! )
"Ma'am, please stay away from her. She's dangerous."
She didn't wait for a response.
She hopped. Fast.
(Rhenvar may call himself a weapon. And I may not be his shield. Or his armor.)
(But I can still be something.)
(I can be his support. I just have to find a way.)
(And I will.)
"No way it's Bunnygirl!" a voice yelled. "I got 2 years because of her!"
"Well now's the time! Variable said it, villains rise! Let's kill her!"
Three of them. Street-level.
She kicked one.
Then two.
Then the third.
Each groaned, clutching their groins.
(Out cold. No time for arrests. Not now.)
She returned to the Crow Queen.
The fight was almost over. Apex was suppressing Corvessa's magic with some kind of tech. He grappled her and slammed her down. Corvessa responded by trying to bite his armor.
"Magic suppressed. Execution imminent," he declared, raising his arm cannon.
(Corvessa said she loved Rhenvar. But it was a twisted love. The old woman had said love must be earned. This is insane…)
(Could I trust her to help him?)
(Everyone else was trying to kill Rhenvar. I want to save him.)
(Even if she's a monster, even if she scared me… she might be the only one who could.)
(I have no other options.)
She dashed toward them.
Bunnygirl kicked Apex hard in the head. Sending him flying back.
"Listen!" She shouted. "You claim to love him? Then EARN it! Rhenvar's fighting! Help him! He's in the center of the city!"
Corvessa tilted her head. Birdlike. Unhinged. "My crow of crows… is in danger? Nonono, YES!"
With manic laughter, she sliced the magic-suppressing device off her arm, bleeding freely. "I know my crow, let's!"
With a burst of violet flamed crows and feathers, she vanished.
Bunnygirl turned to Apex. His helmet is half broken. She saw his eyes. The fear, the regret. "Athena…" he whispered. "Where are you…"
(He was lost. Confused.)
(Was… was he corrupted? Brainwashed?)
She knelt beside him. "Sir?"
Apex punched the ground in anger. "My mission- Willow- the Worldheart… I failed to protect."
(Protect the Worldheart?)
(He wasn't in control before.)
She didn't think. She hugged him.
(He tensed… then broke. He fell on her shoulder.)
(I should run.)
(But heroes don't run. We save people.)
(Even when they're broken.)
(Especially when they're broken.)