As a sort of parallel to how heroes never die, it's also true that villains never win. They may wreak havoc across the city or give their hero a new scar or two, but they don't win.

Jay supposes that while that's bad news for him, it's not the death sentence he first thought. In another universe, he did win. The only questions now are: can he replicate it here, and can he do it without turning into the vile person his doppelgänger is?

But before Jay can even contemplate it, he needs information. Information that Shadowpuff seems very unwilling to share. He takes a step back, eyes narrowed, wings twitching.

"You are like him, aren't you!?"

"You are like him, aren't you!?" [https://img.wattpad.com/3da64b255c6b7a05e7a21b129ac7fa903e76aa4f/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f437a69744a50615f6c324e6a51413d3d2d313434363833343831392e313764303934643133363839636331313830323938343831363939312e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

"Don't get confused. I'm trying to do the right thing here—"

"By killing Alphaman!? He was the only thing that even got close to saving my world. You want to kill him!?"

"No. Think about this rationally. If my double was able to kill Alphaman, he had some secret weapon strong enough to kill Stygian. I need to know what he did, so we have a way to fight back if Alphaman fails."

Shadowpuff growls, hackles raised. "I don't believe you."

"Look. I understand why you're hesitant, but if you want to protect Faye, I'm your best shot."

"I said I won't help you. Get it through your thick skull sidekick!"

Shadowpuff yelps as he's tugged forward by the collar. He trembles as emerald eyes bore into him with unsettling intensity.

"If you really think I'm a villain, you should tell me what I need to know. Because if you don't, someone else will."

"Then get it from someone else, asshole!"

"You really want that? Because I'll remember that you slowed me down, mutt. And I won't forgive you."

Shadowpuff whines pathetically, ears flattening. For a moment, guilt tickles at Jay's heart. He takes a deep breath. This isn't just an obstacle in his way. It's a person—a fuzzy, annoying, canine person, but a person nonetheless.

Jay releases his hold, petting between soft little ears. "Shadowpuff. I'm not your enemy. I'll give you my word. I'll protect Faye. If I was able to destroy your world, I'm strong enough to prevent it from happening again. This is the only thing I can think of to keep her safe."

Shadowpuff darts his eyes away, still trembling. "If you're lying, it will be my fault this time. Then I'll be alone again and I'll have to live with the guilt."

"Do you want to stay with Faye? Even though she's a hero here?"

"I...yes. She's my best friend, whatever she decides to be."

"You need to be a hero too, then. The first step is trusting me. Letting me help you."

A snort. "And why is that?"

"Because it's the virtuous thing to do. It's what a hero would do."

There's a pregnant pause before Shadowpuff speaks again. "I don't know much..."

"Anything helps."

"He was recruiting other villains at first. After Echo and Frame, something changed—I couldn't tell you why, but suddenly he gained a new power."

Jay thinks back to his own new powers. "Super Strength?"

"No, precognition."

"Precognition?"

"He could anticipate things before it even happened. He would tell villains exactly what they needed to do to avoid losing."

"That doesn't make sense. He didn't do that when he was here..."

"I noticed that. Maybe dimension hopping disoriented him?"

"But why Frame?"

"I really don't know. Please believe me. He used the villains to pick off all the heroes and eventually, started taking out all the villains too. Suddenly it was just me and Alphaman left and—he killed him. Stygian destroyed him without taking a single hit."

Jay's heart pounds. They killed Alphaman without taking any damage? There was some hope then. "I believe you. I'll start looking into it, but you can't tell Faye I asked."

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"Why not?"

"What if she tries to start looking into it and gets caught by Stygian? I'm using my powers. To keep her safe, we need to keep this from her as long as possible."

"okay..."

"You don't understand how much this will help. You're a good dog."

Despite himself, Shadowpuff wags his tail. "You think so? You really think I'm a good dog? Be honest."

"A very good dog. Where does Faye keep her dog treats?"

Soon, Shadowpuff is silenced with a generous-sized chunk of rawhide. Faye returns shortly after, bringing with her snacks and blankets. The rest of the day is spent lazing about, listening to Faye babble on and on about her dresses, her latest posts on social media, her new nail tech.

Jay feels a little bad for assuming she was vapid. Though it's clear, she has an appreciation for the materialistic, she's not shallow as he first thought. That's made all the more obvious as she explains the difference between the tulle and silk that makes up her skirt, the online fundraiser she just got to its goal, and the life story of her nail tech, and how she just finished cosmetic school.

Jay listens intently even as his mind wanders. In another version of their story, maybe they could've had a harmonious partnership. Even if it meant that he stayed a sidekick, Jay can't help but long a little for the missed opportunity. He wants to return to that time where the world made sense. Or at least, return to a time Jay was at least under the impression that the problem was just him.

He doesn't regret the way his life is turning out now, though. He's prepared to be a villain, has to be. Not just for his number one fan, but for all the people who've been wronged by the Network.

That's the thought he holds onto as he endures his new role as Alphaman's sidekick.

Jay grunts as he's thrown into the padded training wall. Skipping with Pixamena was nothing but a fond memory now, buried and hidden behind several weeks of intense, non-stop training.

His body is screaming for a break, but he knows he won't be given one. He flinches as a sharp red tendril imbeds itself into the padded wall next to his head. He moves quick to avoid it as it curves around to stab into him.

He staggers to his feet, swinging his staff at Alphaman's torso. The blow glances off him like a twig blowing in a slight breeze. Jay only has moments to shield his face as his own weapon is torn from his hands and used against him. He grunts in pain as the metal harshly crashes against his forearms.

He attempts to stand, but another shadow slices through his thigh, causing him to yell and slam back down on the unforgiving linoleum. He flinches as an armored boot slams down right next to his head.

"Are you even trying today?" Alphaman growls.

"I am. You didn't have to slice through my leg, shit."

"Man up. You have a healing factor for a reason."

Jay is roughly picked up by red shadows, placing him on his feet. He staggers, grimacing as his chest throbs painfully at the action. He wonders if Gannet can feel that.

"I can get up on my own—"

"You need to try harder. I don't care what the bigwigs say about your powers. If you can't keep up, I don't want you."

"Something tells me if you really could get rid of me, you would. You may not want me, but you need me."

Alphaman freezes in place, still staring down at Jay. Without the mask, it should be easier to read his emotions, but the blank stare reveals nothing but that Jay really wishes Alphaman would blink. Since Jay won't get that, though, he takes solace with a swift kick to the stomach. As powerful as he is, Alphaman is still short. He falls with a yelp and a crash of armor.

Jay stands, trying to center himself. He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes. He's been trying to tap into the power Shadowpuff mentioned, but so far there has been zero sign of precognition. He digs deeper, deeper—

A burning sensation flares up in his chest. Shit, that's not what he wanted. Jay grunts, attempting to suppress the feeling. Dark veins creeping up his skin retreat. It's not exactly what he was going for, but he is getting better at summoning his super strength. Still, it's a small consolation prize as a tendril wraps around his throat.

Jay chokes as Alphaman lifts him by the neck and tosses him across the room. Jay only has moments to brace to break his fall, sliding down to feel a brutal crunch in his ankle as he lands. He screams as he crumples into a heap, holding his leg.

Alphaman leans over him, nudging him with a cold boot. "Stygian must be more incompetent than I thought. How did you ever get any wins on him? Was he toying with you?"

Jay can only squeeze his eyes shut, attempting to not bite his tongue off as the bone knits itself together. "Stygian usually monologues before he has a chance to break my damn bones!"

"It's not broken. And I don't do monologues—-learned that the hard way with Calamity a long time ago."

"He didn't appreciate your righteous speeches about heroism. What a fucking shock."

"No, he'd attack any time I tried. Bastard was tricky. But enough reminiscing, get up."

"I can't. It's still healing."

"I said, get. Up. Now."

Jay shrinks back as livid red eyes stare daggers at him. His ankle is still throbbing. Walking now would definitely make the break even worse. He flinches as Alphaman clenches his hand, shadows swirling—

"Hey, are y'all almost finished up for today?" a bubbly voice echoes.

Jay rolls his head over to witness Pixamena fluttering over, accompanied by both the puffs.

Alphaman pauses. "No. We've still got an hour to go still."

Pixamena giggles, twirling a twintail. "Really? Looks like you already beat the snot out of him."

Jay glares. Is she flirting? Really? As Jay lay on the floor in excruciating pain?

Pixiepuff must notice the sour look, because he trots up to Jay, licking him on the face. As Jay splutters and protests, Shadowpuff joins by sitting next to Jay's head. He lowers his snout to whisper in Jay's ear.

"Don't ruin it. She's just trying to get you out of here."

Alphaman looks Pixamena up and down, raising an eyebrow. "I'll get mine later."

"You always get the frozen caramel drizzle and 2 pumps of butterscotch with extra cookie bits, right? Do you want me to put it in the fridge so it will melt slower?"

"No, I—I always get black coffee."

"Oh, I thought I saw you with one other day. Sorry, I'll drink it—"

"No, it's fine. Fix crybaby up here. We'll go on break."

Jay stares in shock as Alphaman retreats, headed straight for the break room, as Jay stares flabbergasted. As the automatic doors slide shut behind him, Pixamena sighs, kneeling as a hello-kitty themed first aid kit appears in her hands. "That was scary."

"Did you just bribe Alphaman to stop wailing on me with a latte?"

"I did. I guess a sweet tooth runs in the family."

Jay groans, letting his head fall flat. "This is hell. This is genuinely hell."

"Did you tell Darius about this? I know we're all preparing any way we can, but he seems to be going a little hard on you."

"A little hard?"

"Sorry. You want a cold compress?"

"Yes, please."

Pixamena pulls one out from the kit. Jay Goes lax, closing his eyes as the cool relief is pressed to his swollen ankle. Pixiepuff climbs onto his chest, tail wagging. "For your effort today, I will give you my pup-cup."

"Hooray."

"Did he really break your ankle?" Shadowpuff asks.

Jay cracks his eyes open. "He did."

"I'm sure it's just bruised," Pixamena hums.

Jay shares a meaningful look with the bat-winged Pomeranian. It's a little unsettling to see such a serious expression on the face of a purple dog.