-Cosmo-

“I told you this was a bad idea! Now Isaac’s sealed himself away!” I yelled at Brutus while poking him in the chest. Each poke drawing blood. Angry I found myself unable to hold back. He paid it no mind.

“I wasn’t expecting him to just shut down like that. I was sure the kid would just do what he always does and get angry.” Responded the brute.

“You’re an idiot! That only happens when someone Isaac cares about gets attacked! When he gets attacked he shuts down and falls into deep apathy! Now the only emotions left are Aku’s!” Said Lorie.

“Oh… my bad.” Said Brutus.

“Hmm… yeah Julia said something about multiple personalities, but seeing it is way different than hearing about it.” Said Claw.

We’d moved to another part of the skyland. One that wasn’t covered in a layer of glass. I looked over to Aku. The kids were playing with a ball Brutus had on hand. They were kicking it around, passing it back and forth. Even Ribdena had joined them after not understanding the concept of a game.

Lil Aku was so cute running around and smiling. She looked so happy to have friends to play with. It was so cute. She didn't have all the baggage Isaac carried. Her eyes were full of life and joy. Maybe… maybe this wasn't a bad thing.

Brutus pulled me out of my thoughts by tapping my shoulder and saying, “I know what you’re thinking, but we can’t leave the kid like that.” Said Brutus.

That was exactly what I had been thinking. Aku just looked so much happier than Isaac, but still. That didn’t mean Isaac was happy. Isaac wasn’t feeling anything at the moment.

I turned to Claw. “You’ve seen something like this before. How did you guys pull Isaac out of it?” I asked.

Claw shrugged his shoulders. Then said, “Hell if I know. A couple years back he went all crazy one day and came after me with a knife. He stabbed me a few times putting me in the hospital. After that we stayed away from each other. Last thing I heard he was calling himself Cent or… something.” Answered claw.

“I see. I could try the multidimensional surveillance system but that would take too long.” I said.

“Old man. The only reason I agreed to this was because I wanted to wale on Isaac and get revenge on him for everything he did. It just doesn’t feel right beating up a little girl that keeps calling me uncle. I got nieces and nephews back on Earth. I wouldn’t want to beat them up.” Said Claw.

“You seem different. What happed to the asshole from before?” Asked Brutus.

“I was trying to show off before and dominate my brother. He deserves it after killing our mom and dad. Not to mention putting me in the hospital and taking my leg.” Said Claw. The loud mouthed asshole seemed to clutch at his left thigh, as if remembering an old pain.

“He took your leg?” I asked.

“Yup, he cut off the tendons. Removed a whole ass chunk while I was passed out from blood loss.” Said Claw.

I didn't know that part. I guess I should have paid more attention. I’d only ever been concerned about Isaac. He had such a tragic past that I never thought to look at the bullies he hurt.

This was just another one of my failures as a goddess. To be fair, Cain was never one of the children on my list, so keeping up with him wasn’t really my job.

“Well, it’s pretty obvious what needs to happen.” Said The Lore keeper.

She drew in our attention. “What?” We all asked in unison.

“You need to make him angry. Make Aku cry. I’d suggest having Claw bully her. Maybe even take Snowball and rip her in half. It worked last time when Yukio first met him.” Said The Lore keeper.

“That’s too cruel!” I whined

“It would work though.” Said Brutus.

“But she's just a baby!” I whined.

“We can get her another Snowball and an ice cream while were at it. Besides she already doesn’t like Claw.” Said The Lore Keeper.

“Oh, but my baby!” I whined.

Claw let out a loud burp. Then cracked his neck, before saying, “On it.” he stepped forward, ready to commit horrible playground crimes in order to get at his brother.

-Aku-

I watched the ball go from Pez to Riza. Then from Riza to Zubu. I couldn’t wait to get it back. I hopped up and down in excitement and anticipation. Even Snowball was happily cheering me on from the sidelines.

Ribdena got the ball next then passed it to me. I was about to run forward and kick it to Ron when uncle came over and put his foot on top of the ball.

“Uncle do you wanna play too? It was my turn. I can pass it to you.” I said happy to have another player, even if it was my rude uncle.

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“Shut up!” He put more pressure on the ball causing it to expand horizontally. It made a rubber like sound. Almost like it was crying. Then the ball made a loud, “POP!” as it burst from the strain of uncles foot. The sound scared me causing me to yelp.

I felt tears gather in the corners of my eyes, as I realized I didn’t get to go — and that the game was no longer possible. I wanted to yell at him, but he looked so scary at the moment. His eyes were sharp and the smile on his face reminded me of a villain.

I could hear everyone complaining about what he did. I didn’t want him to be mad at me, so I ran away and headed over to Snowball. However, before I could even get halfway, uncle made it to her first, kicking her into the air and snatching her up. She squirmed in his hand and called for help.

I panicked realizing he could really hurt Snowball. “No! Don’t touch her! Snowball isn’t a toy!” I cried.

“This thing isn’t a toy? Its just a stupid doll. Why the hell is it wearing a dress? It’s a cat not a person.” He put a finger on Snowballs collar and with a swift motion tore the dress off.

“Stop it! That dress was a gift!” I cried.

-Isaac-

My brother was being an asshole again, but I didn’t feel anything. There was this black stuff clinging to me like a wet blanket. It made me feel so tired and lazy. Like I could sleep for a really long time.

This chair was so comfortable. Better than laying in a bed. What was with all that noise. It made it so much harder to sleep.

-Aku-

“Stop it! Let her go! Don’t hurt her!” I cried trying to jump and grab Snowball. He held her really high up and pushed me away. I wasn’t sure on how to do that thing papa does. I knew how it worked, but I didn’t have the skill to pull it off.

“What the hell do you think You’re doing, asshole!” Yelled Zubu.

“Its none of your fucking business! This is family shit!” yelled uncle.

“Please give her back! She doesn’t like heights!” I cried.

Zubu fired a ball of glowing pink plasma, but uncle reached out causing his spear to rip itself from the ground and fly over.

Grabbing it he swung it effortlessly destroying Zubu’s attack. The plasma scattered without its outer electrical membrane.

“How about I do this instead.” Said uncle as red lightning crawled up his arm really slow like.

“Please stop!” I begged as my tears splashed on the grass.

The lightning got on Snowball, lighting her on fire. She screamed in pain as her body was slowly being burned.

I screamed.

-Isaac-

I felt my chair begin to sink into the ground. It was only then that I realized this stuff was apathy. I… liked it. I liked it a lot. I didn’t have to feel anything. All I had to do was sleep and forget.

I might end up in the hole, but I didn’t mind it as long as I no longer had to feel pain. It would be fine. Caring about stuff was what broke me. With apathy, I could live in the fiery pits of hell and nothing would hurt. What more could a person wish for?

The world spins, the universe expands and everyone moves on, so why should I keep trying when everything I ever do won't matter in a 100 years. Time erases everything. It’s time I retire. Let someone else take the crown.

This might not be heaven, but it wasn't hell either. It was neutral. I’d only wished I'd accepted it forever ago. Back when disappearing would have helped a lot of people.

The more I gave in to the hole. The less I cared about reality. It was peaceful and that was all I needed. By this point, my chair was beneath the ground, and I couldn't find the strength to pull myself out — as dark bands of apathy began to coil around me. They were cold, but I didn't care. It was like being under the aura of a paralysis demon.

Right when I was about to be swallowed whole, I heard a loud scream. The sound cut right through my apathy and struck my very core. The frequency of the scream resonated with the echo in my chest. I felt my emotions turn over like an old engine rumbling to life after years of stasis.

The echo grew in intensity.

“Aku!” I yelled as my body was engulfed in a powerful light, shooting me into the sky and back under the crown.

-Aku/Isaac-

My aura flared to life as I saw the burning remains of Snowball on the ground. I’d slacked off for far too long. It was my fault Snowball got hurt. I only hope Aku could forgive me. How dare he make her cry!

“Awake now are we.” Said Cain with that fucking smile on his face.

“You can beat me to a pulp. You can destroy my self esteem. You can hurt me all you want, but don’t you fucking dare hurt my daughter!” I yelled as the echo pulsed in my chest.

In that moment I wanted nothing more than to hurt him. I should be hurting myself. If I hadn’t dissociated like that then none of this would have happened.

I’m the worst father! How could I not protect her! How could I let her cry! How could I have laid there while this asshole hurt her! You're a piece of shit Isaac!

Drawing on the heat, wind, and momentum aspects surrounding Snowball, I boosted my speed while extinguishing the flames. Then, raising my hand, I blasted him with a new spell.

A soul silver magic circle manifested in my palm. I called out the name of my modded spell: “Multi-Shot!” Several mana bolts erupted simultaneously, resembling a spray of projectiles. Cain spun his spear like a whirlwind, dispersing the low-powered spells before unleashing a blast of crimson lightning.

I released a Qi pulse under my feet shooting myself up into the air. My body rotated in a summersault as I flew over the lightning in an arch.

Seeing my trajectory he fired another burst of lighting straight up into the sky most likely aiming to where I would be.

I set up two platforms adding water aspects to my shell to create my caterpillar aura. Landing on the bottom of the first, I activated a double Qi pulse, not only destroying the platform, but launching myself down to the next one.

The second platform was vertical at a slight angle, putting my brother directly in the path of my next jump. With another set of Qi pulses, I tore the last platform into aspects sending me on a collision course with Cain. Turning my body midair, I slammed my two feet into his stupid grinning face.

It only took a second to perform all my acrobatics, and it didn’t help Cain that he was so sure of his attack that he took his eyes off me.

It wasn’t over, as I released a big Qi pulse out of my light up shoes, knocking Cain off his feet and sending him flying into a tree. The tree splintered, but didn’t brake.

Quickly, I created a platform, pressing it against him to pin him in place. Then began gathering heat, wind, and momentum aspects. They quickly formed a magic circle creating a red nova.

I focused on lowering the combustion of the flames and began to feed it wind aspects converting them into hydrogen for the best result. The flame grew in intensity and violence as it roared in the palm of my hand. The heat aspects were fed back into the spell changing the basketball sized fireball into the size of a giant beach ball.

The flames became even hotter, as they changed color from red to a bright golden yellow. Finally after 3 seconds of cast time I unleashed my new spell calling out it’s name: “Solarball!”

I quickly undid the wind platform that was holding my brother in place and fed the wind aspects into my attack. Before the attack could land, using my previously activated Qi sight, I saw red static running along my brother’s body.

The attack exploded creating a massive burning vortex of swirling yellow and orange flames. At its center rose up a pillar of red lightning.