Time moves like a river. That’s supposed to be really deep but it just means that both things move. I don’t really get it. But what is also flowing is blood. I got stabbed to make things more dramatic and apparently I can’t retcon it. So I gotta keep myself safe by handing over the spotlight to someone else. TomCat’s team was supposed to meet us in the caves. Let’s see what they’re up to.

I brush a bead of sweat of my face before thrusting my fists through the last of the machine samurai.

“That was amazing, TomCat. You’re like super cool,” says Fruity with a smile. “Oh, and like, thanks for saving me. Girl, you’re mega rad.”

Why is she talking to me like that?

“You used to call me Tommy. What happened?” I ask.

Fruity looks at me curiously. “Oh yeah. Sorry, Tommy. Just really stressed out over almost being killed and all. Those metal creeps seriously need to get a life.”

“Well this isn’t the first time this has happened. I’ll always be here to protect you.” I grab her hand.

“Um…thanks,” says Fruity, looking at me curiously. “Oh yeah, we’ve been through a lot.”

Something is wrong with her. I have to find out what it is.

I lean in and kiss her yummy lips. “Just as sweet as the first time.”

Fruity pulls away and turns crimson like a strawberry. Her pale skin makes the lovely shade of red stand out beautifully.

“We’ve done this before? Well, then I’m sure I told you that, like, girls do not do it for me.”

I put my hand to her forehead. “You said I was pretty. You really don’t remember?” Tears fill my eyes.

She looks into me and smiles awkwardly. “Yeah! I remember now. You were saying you weren’t cute and well…I was just trying to get a smile on that scary face.”

She used her powers to find out what happened. It’s that kid with the glasses. He’s destroying her memories. I have to do something.

“Have you eaten anything strange lately?”

“Nah, just some yummy shrooms.”

“Glasses Kid is poisoning your mind. You can’t eat those mushrooms anymore. Is that understood?” I shake her in a panic.

Fruity shoves me off with her dainty hands. “Excuse me, kitty boxer, but we kinda just met. Wait, no…I do know you.” She holds her head. “Why can’t I remember?”

“It must be those mushrooms. He’s manipulating your memories.”

“Why would my little brother do that?”

“You’re an only child, Fruity. Please, you have to remember.”

“No. You’re just trying to confuse me.” She gets up and runs off.

I chase her down and grab her hand. “Calm down. I’ll talk with him, okay? Maybe I’m wrong about this. For now, we gotta stick together.”

“Yeah, sure. Umm, whatever you say, Tommy.”

What am I going to do? If I hurt him then she’ll get hurt too. I have to find someway to bargain with him. I have to free Fruity!

There’s a rustle in the bushes. I stand up, ready to face the enemy.

“Aha! Found ya!” Dere Dere runs up to me.

“The SparkBug at the end of the rainbow sings at last,” says Kuu, dancing past me and kissing a tree branch.

I rush up to her. “Do you have anything that can help with memories?”

Kuu giggles and pops an imaginary bubble. “I can make many many happy memories for you.” She pulls out a leaf coated in white powder.

“Memory loss, do you have anything that nullifies that?”

“Oh, I might. I’ll have to consult Mr. Owl.” She looks to her shoulder and starts speaking as if someone is there.

So much for that idea.

“Where are all my worshippers?” asks Dere Dere, swinging on my arm.

“They were heading for the Cave of Dying Echoes. We should hurry up and meet with them before that dumb nerd bites it.”

“A dark cave. That actually sounds pretty sweet,” says Fruity with a smile.

At least her personality is still held together. My love is still in there.

“A dark cave won’t solve your problems. The old memories have wooshed away, but you must make new ones.” Kuu hands Fruity a leaf.

Smoke comes out from the leaf and from it emerges a short racoon angel with a baggy sweater filled with leaves. “Bwahahaha! I have appeared!”

“That’s new,” says Kuu with wide eyes.

The angel shuffles through her leaf filled pockets. “Sometimes you gotta heat up to get the love pumping, but other times you just gotta chill to notice the love waves.”

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Kuu pets the angel. “Well said, Squirly girl.”

“I’m a Tanewki angel. But I do appreciate the compliment. Aha!” She pulls out a leaf and lies it on the ground. It explodes into smoke.

Kuu’s body grows tubes that take in the fumes. “Whoa, that’s intense.”

“MIZU!” Dere Dere hops into the smoke cloud, making a splash.

The remaining fumes part, revealing a cool bath.

What the!? The bath is occupied!

A RiftRipper, an Angel, a CatBoy General and a hero are all in the bath together.

I’m so confused.

Dere Dere splashes them. “Out! I have claimed every drop as my domain!”

The White RiftRipper turns to her.

The shadowy Angel signals him to stand down.

“Not good! There’s a CatBoy general!” exclaims the hero, pointing at me.

“Not one I’m familiar with,” says the CatBoy general.

Only one general went missing from Flam’s army. That must be NeedleStack.

Amorita hops in front of the bath and makes an ‘x’ with her arms.

“No! No! No! You’re not supposed to stay in the bath. It was empty! I know it was.” She paces around nervously.

The Hero spoke up. “Sorry. I know you wanted to help us but we kind of tricked you. Couldn’t cross the continent without leaving a residue from rift jumping. So the big guy just sorta hid us so we could get around easier.”

“Why are you explaining things to her?” The dark angel gets out from the cold water and cloaks herself in shadows. “You there.” She points at me. “Where are we?”

“How about you tell me who you are first?” I ask, stepping in front of them so they don’t notice Fruity behind me. I signal her to leave but she doesn’t budge.

“Shadow Truth.” The RiftRipper says in a whisper as if talking to himself.

NeedleStack shakes the water off. “All you need to know is we’re enemies of Flam. So prepare to die.” He shapes one of his hairs into a spike.

I dodge the spear he tosses at me, grab it and then crush it. “I am too. I went rogue.”

Dere Dere hops on NeedleStack’s back. “If you hurt this deity’s kitty, you’re gonna go zap!” She pokes his cheek, making all his fur stand on end.

“Hey, there’s no need to fight.” The Hero comes out of the bath naked. “Shade is looking for her sister.” He gestures to the shadowy angel.

“Yes. It’s been years since our separation. I miss her dearly,” says Shade, but her eyes don’t reflect her words.

“Do you have any idea how rare it is to see an angel?” I ask.

The Hero walks up to me. “There are less and less of them every year. Hopefully they are in a sanctuary.” He puts out his hand. “My name is Yuki.”

“I don’t know anything about any angels,” I say, crossing my arms.

“You seem nervous.” The angel says as her shadow massages my back.

“I am. I have to go somewhere and I’m running late.” I turn from her gaze.

“Where you headed? We can take you there.” She snaps her fingers and the RiftRipper creates a portal.

Kuu comes out from behind me. “The angel is the sunny sunny paradise.”

Why would she tell them that?

“Oh, there you are. Learn anything important?” asks Shade.

Dere Dere speeds up to Kuu and covers her mouth. “Ignore the false truth. Toxins speak for my fungal follower.” She nods with a toothy grin.

A puff of purple gas emits from one of the flowers on Kuu.

Dere Dere goes stiff and falls backward, shaking in place.

“I found the seeker of the ages!” Kuu tosses Fruity’s limp body to Shade.

Kuu is a traitor! They better not hurt Fruity. I can’t let them know she’s important to me…or they’ll hurt her. I have to stay silent.

“Well done. Anything else?” asks Shade, tossing Fruity into the vortex behind the RiftRipper’s cloak.

“The portal to Gaia…it sings in her tome.” Kuu spins around and creates flowers with each step.

“She finally found it. Good job, little sis,” says the angel with a smirk.

“Wait, there’s a way back?” I ask with wide eyes.

NeedleStack approaches me. “She knows too much. We must kill her.”

“Hey! She’s not our enemy!” yells Yuki.

Luna pushes the naked hero into the new portal. “Go ahead and kill her.” She hops onto the RiftRipper’s shoulders and watches as the General approaches me.

Kuu rubs her hands together to send a DandyLion my way.

The kitty faced flower disperses around me, releasing toxins.

“Now pain becomes joy and death is an orgasm,” she says, dancing around me.

Damn traitor. My body feels all tingly and soft. Yuck.

My vision is impaired by sparkles but I engage the new kitty gauntlets that Fruity got me.

“You’ve upgraded,” says NeedleStack, growing the needles in his fingertips to create bladed fingers.

“Yep. Now why don’t you just let me work with you so I don’t have to get my precious gift all messy?”

I dodge a projectile needle and rush in. I throw a punch at the same time he does.

His arm swerves below mine.

Easy hit.

A needle suddenly grows from his furry arm and pierces into the bottom of my arm.

My punch misses but the pistons activate, creating a shockwave that blasts him off his feet.

Damn, I feel so freaking weird.

My legs are shaky and moist.

Getting aroused from a fight is routine. But it’s supposed to be a fire between my legs, not this pathetic sensitivity.

While my mind is being barraged by bubbly feelings, another needle stabs into my legs.

I gush and nearly slip on my own puddle.

Damn my vision is getting blurry. Gotta find someway to end this quick.

NeedleStack tosses his projectiles at me while circling around, keeping his distance.

I put my hands out and use my shockwaves to deflect most of the needles.

This won’t work. Have to lure him to me.

I punch extra hard and slip on the puddle, falling flat on my ass.

“It’s over now!” NeedleStack rushes toward me.

Got him.

I rub my legs together, creating electric energy with the metal plates. The shocking energy travels down my legs, making my body shiver with pleasure. It gathers in my BunBun slippers. The bunnies glow with energy before squeaking.

NeedleStacks expression melts into fear when he realizes he’s standing in the puddle.

His furry body is smoking by the time the electric storm is finished.

I try to stand up but my legs are shaky.

The angel looks past me and at her ally. “Hey, Shroomy, give her the antidote. She won.”

Kuu nods and pours some black liquid in my mouth.

My vision clears up.

“Shade! He’s not dead,” says Yuki, shaking NeedleStack.

“We only need one CatBoy General on our side. I prefer the hothead,” she says, her shadows lifting me up.

The RiftRipper floats to NeedleStack and a monstrous mouth forms from the void beneath his cloak. Its body morphs into a cage and it devours the CatBoy General. I’m unable to see what’s going on, but NeedleStack’s screams aren’t muffled in the slightest.

Yuki looks away in tears. “He was our ally. He was so soft!”

“Yeah, but he was also a prick.” Shade smiles at me as her shadow juts out as teeth around me.

Didn’t know angels could be so terrifying.

“So, you going to kill me if I don’t join your little club?” I ask, readying my gauntlets.

Shade smiles and her shadow mouth laughs. “I know your story. We have the same enemy. There’s no reason you shouldn’t join us. Isekai got your brothers killed. They’ve ruined your life.”

She’s right, but if I join them will anything change. A rebellion just leads to more dead rebels.

I look up at her. “I already have a team.”

“Then we’ll just have to create an opening for you.” She signals the RiftRipper to enter the portal.

I stand in his path. “Wait. Help me kill the one who murdered my brothers. Do that and I’ll join you.”

And if I can kill a RiftRipper, then getting Fruity back from this abomination should be no sweat.

Shade takes out a vial of liquid and pours it on her lips. “Been so long since I’ve made a Hero Bond. Thankfully you’re not ugly like that O.R.C.”

Her shadows grip me and bring me to my knees.

“Wait up! This isn’t what I meant.” I struggle to escape but I can’t even budge.

Shade grabs my face and plunges her tongue in my mouth. She sucks the air out of me as I’m intoxicated by her energy.

My body starts shaking uncontrollably.

If I already have a power and get the Angel’s Kiss, then am I going to die?

Shade’s shadow releases me. “If you run off, I’ll know. Join us when you’re ready. Welcome to Shadow Truth.” She licks her lips. “Yuki, we’re leaving now!”

“Yeah, sure thing.” He looks at me with worry but leaves.

My body shivers and I collapse as I see her go into the portal.