Faffy von Tyranicus never thought she’d find herself on death row. She never thought she’d be executed at all! The death penalty was for supervillains and stuff, wasn’t it? It was for those who deserved it, not her! She didn’t want to die and felt herself getting closer and closer to the end with every step forward.

She tugged at her chains but nothing gave way. She tried and tried to use more of Echidna’s strength to resist, but she couldn’t. She was only piloting the body since Echidna was unconscious. It wasn’t hers. Sure, that wasn’t a problem when she texted friends on the internet or watched Youtube videos, but now it was pretty vital.

Not that she thought Echidna’s body was strong enough to do anything. She just didn’t want to die without trying to, that was all.

“H-huh?” Suddenly, control was yanked away from her as Echidna slowly drifted her way to consciousness. She groaned and winced as she felt the pain that Faffy had been bearing for what felt like an eternity as she told her sorry tale to Akaka.

“Oh, who is this?” Speaking of, apparently her cellmate was a crow person, with talons instead of fingers and feathers instead of hair. He was similarly bound in chains, though seeing him under the light didn’t help much, Faffy still couldn’t tell how old he was. She just didn’t have a frame of reference and was pretty sure feathers didn’t go gray.

“I-I’m Echidna von Tyr-”

“Shut up.” The guard who was escorting them slammed the flat end of their halberd into Echidna’s back, driving the air out and forcing them to the floor. They then yanked her by the chains, forcing her up before saying, “Get up.”

“...” Echidna, rather than growling at the show of impudence before someone great, whimpered and did as told.

They were silent as they walked out of the dungeon and onto a courtyard. It was remarkably beautiful, with streams of water flowing to provide sustenance for the flowers. The tulips were a sight to behold and a small part of her, whether that be Echidna or Faffy, couldn’t help but feel a smidgen of relief that they’d die somewhere scenic.

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They were brought before the draconic lord of the city and their four retainers, holding up the palanquin for the noble. Besides them and the guards escorting the two, there was also another draconic humanoid. Unlike the lord, they stood on their own two feet, and their scales were pitch black. They wore similarly black robes and, by their side as the only thing of a differing color, was a large sheathed sword.

“We’re going to die.” Both Echidna and Faffy said it at once, their wills united. The fact had only then fully set in. It was a blur as their knees were struck by the guard and they were forced to kneel. The black humanoid dragon yawned as they walked up, unsheathing their sword and letting them see the blade that would spill their blood.

“Yes, as will I. Thank you, Echidna, Faffy, for giving me a bit of company in my end.” Somehow, they could tell that Akaka had a somber smile. “For little as its worth, I assure you, the next world shall have something for you.”

“...” But that was cold comfort for both Echidna and Faffy von Tyranicus. Two people with ridiculous names who were on the chopping block. For Echidna, she still had a destiny to fulfill, she still had so many things to do. And just maybe, she wanted some simpler things. Perhaps she wanted a companion by her side to tackle the challenges of the world. Perhaps she wanted to share a moment of triumph with another person, to share the strife and struggle as well as the blue sky after the storm parted. But she’d never have that. She’d die before she could ever be hugged. She’d die before she could ever grow up. She’d die before any of that.

As for Faffy, she had numerous mundane things she still wanted to do. She wanted to watch so many movies, to play so many games, to see so many places, she was being greedy in wanting so much, yes, but she couldn’t help but want it all.

For a single moment, right before the black dragon’s sword fell, the two souls were united. A great power, long dormant, left asleep for so long that it couldn’t be sensed at all, was awoken. It surged from within and began pumping out, the gate opened for just a moment. It took the opportunity and burst out with incredible power as they shouted out, “I DON’T WANNA DIE!”

None present were expecting such a cry to come out. Suddenly, everyone except Faffy and Echidna fell to the ground, unconscious.

“W-what?” Her eyes were closed, awaiting the painful surge to take her. But when she opened them, she realized that death had not come. No, it seemed that it was sleep instead that arrived, not to bury, but to rescue. “Oh my god.” She knew that, whatever happened, it wasn’t going to stick. She looked around and saw Akaka and, with shackled hands, managed to help him up with a bout of hysterical strength.

With her fellow prisoner, she began to run from the draconic lord’s court.