Chapter Text
The Garden of Elysium, heart of the Queendom of Dreams. an eyesore with vibrant colors such as a tranquil green, so unlike the beautiful acid green of the uproar. With trees here and there, wildflowers growing all over the place and wild critters crawling about the entire area.
He stood out like a sore thumb amongst the multicolored flowers, there was no place to hide or sneak. he hated that, the lack of control he had here, he can't even vex anything in this sad excuse for a paradise! one thing was clear to him; Charm made quick work on reviving it from being a winter wonderland.
Why was he even here you may ask? well it's to spy on his enemy thats why— no other real reason. He could go replenish his strength until his next parade around Craftworld, but for once he might as well plan ahead given an old threat just has freshly became new, the princess returning into the limelight has certainly threw his old song and dance off rhythm. perhaps thats why he was here, to revel in the confusion of the why, where or who. well he personal knows the who in question.
But how in the cosmos is he going to find her in this jungle!? he checked the castle, Fever Dream Forest, city square. he had checked everywhere at this point; did she disappear again? left with no word? did she really abandon him— Vex's core nearly stopped humming at the thought, but it quickly started to faster thrum against his chest, realizing at what the thought even was. his hand gripped at his vest's fabric, hovering over where his theoretical heart would be. This feeling has always suffocated him when it came to her, returning at the slightest thought of the 'good' old times.
They haven't been friends for thousands of years; she banished him to the void, and he ripped her eye out (and used her to prevail his plans for world domination) Those faded memories should held no power over him, making his insides wiggle and squirm. the way she would hold him when alone, the feeling of soft fabric brushing against his coarse cotton.
Truth be told, he wanted more then was given back then. It wasn't greed, it was more then that. Vex could feel an overpowering sensation of pure joy rush to his head, making him feel light-head. this raw feeling is usually achieved though tormenting any unfortunate soul who came his way, or through conflict and mayhem. this time it had a different source.
NO, stop, what are you doing? Vex wanted to tear this senseless feeling apart, he didn't have a use for this emotion, he doesn't even like her! and she didn't like him. Maybe she does
No, no, nope! shut up brain! She doesn't like him in anyway! But oh, how her soft voice would echo in his ears…
Vex found a comfy stump to lean against, taking a break from wandering the garden. He will admit: This is the best place to unwind, maybe a good place to camp. Vex watched as an odd butterfly flew alone, moving like a flower lost in the wind.its wings almost looked bird like. No, wait, it looked more like a beetle. it flew about before landing on him, in-between his eyes. "What the fuck are yo— ACK" The little fucker bit him! He squished the pest with his hands. he looked at his gloves, staring at the gross scraps of bug. He wiped it away without a second thought.
What odd creatures she had in her garden.. At least the terrain was somewhat pleasant, he'll give her that. A real butterfly landed on his face this time, it's glittery wings opening and closing slightly. he reached out a finger for it stand on, it surprisingly listened. Vex watched as it just sat there without moving. He sighed softly, remembering a few nights ago.
On top of a cliff, where a group of trees covered a creature in a dark shadow.
The night was lit in a brilliant glow; fireworks sprinkled into stars against the sky. Loom was the most alive as ever, and he loathed it. How dare they, how dare they be happy for his failure? Vex glared down on a particular sackling, one with everyone's attention on him.
He was laughing, and bathing in his victory, with his friends in tow. "Such a rotten little— " if there was one thing Vex was good at it was noticing the small details of a design, and the design of Sackboy's face was off by a few (not like it already was)
Now thats odd. Sackboy's smile seemed off, he kept glancing towards the main entrance to the small town. Now, this seemed interesting, what could be bothering the righteous hero so much?
Perhaps he could use this. He slithered closer, not too close to be spotted but enough to get a better look. He followed the sacking's movements, trying to see what he sees. His face grew even more dim, it was lovely sight to the jester. Even Scarlet noticed, he could make out she was trying to ask what was wrong.
Now what can he do to make it worse? a power outage during a party sounds fun. Maybe he could "rain" on their parade? Did he even have enough energy to make a storm? maybe a light drizzle… his attention was drawn back when he noticed that Sackboy's face was lit up in such joy. he tried to shield his eyes from how bright it was
He followed to where he was look and noticed a new face quickly approaching them: A sackgirl with cotton skin and golden hair. she wore a pink hood with butterflies and flowers sewn on, a bell dangled from the piece of fabric. and lastly she wore white gloves and silver ballet flats.
Sackboy quickly rushed towards her and held her close in his arms, twirling around. Now he could be mistaken, but he hasn't met this sackling, sure he never learned all their names or even cared too, but he would've recognized her if she was working on the topsy turver. Vex studied the new sackling closely, she seemed to be nothing special on the surface, but clearly she meant a lot to Sackers.
It would be a shame if someone were to, i don't know, ruin the little reunion. a smile stretched across his face, a swirling portal started to open in front of him. All he needed to do was steal Sackboy's friend from right over him and—
A blast of pastel sparkles blinded his vision, pushing him backwards onto floor.
"Now, Now. I cannot let you ruin this perfect night, now can i?" A cheery mellow voice spoke. Vex felt a sharp pain in the side of his neck, he reached out to exam the pain, his core nearly dropped into his stomach. his claws grazed over the gash, covering them in a wet and thick substance: Blood, his blood. His eyes snapped up, sharping. "Oh, how i miss that look! one of absolute taragménos!" The voice giggled. the trees surrounding him seemed to close off any means of escape, shifting shape to be taller and wider. Whatever it is, it's strong, and it's toying with him.
Now this could be entertaining
"look at them, happy. I cannot let you interfere with her joy, not after what she had to face." The shadow pointed a needle at him, what he can assume was a wand. he hasn't seen one in years, not ever since his showdown against her.
He looked back at the two saclikngs below, the voice must be referring to the golden haired one. He'll eventually get to ruin their day, but right now he was bit busy with this newest issue.
A silhouette within the shadows slowly approached him, a dreamy purple smoke sparkled in the dim moonlight. Lavender and vanilla wafted in the air, overwhelming his sense of smell. He pounced back up into the air, ready to attack. His cape casted a shadow over the mysterious craftling, but no fear could be felt from them, only the pure sense of… Euphoria?
He came full force towards the ground. as he did, he came into contact with soft plush fabric. His sight less muddled by the fog as he can see dark fabric, shimmering like violet tanzanite. A blue and yellow colored button stared at him, a button eye anyone would recognize. "Princess," he gasped quietly. She looked, different… She was draped in flowing fabrics rather than the poofy purple dress he remembered. Her white curls were gone now replaced with iridescent purple, shifting blue and pink in the lighting.
Vex stood over the royal, pinning her to the ground. He didn't notice how his hands trembled while they gripped her arms tighter, only the way she stared at him intently. she seemed less bubbly then when they first met in the forest. But back then he played the foolish lost performer, getting close to the embodiment of dream's priestess. "You…" He sneered.
"Me," she grinned. Why was she here? to spoil his fun once more? After years of not speaking or seeing eachother, she shows up now? Now! Right after his humiliating defeat. Anger spread through his body, Vex held her down with a harsher grip. The princess held no reaction, no pain nor care. just like then, just like when he offered her the world and she turned it down all for the sake of her Fable.
"I never thought i would see your face again, Princess. it's unlike you to stray away from your 'master'. How is she by the way? the great Fable of dreams is still slacking off?" Her eye remained dull but something shifted. "Charm."
"Huh?" he questioned, what does that even mean? "My name is Charm," She smiled sweetly. "It's not Princess anymore?" His grip loosen slightly. "Never was. i was not very confident in my name, thought it did not suit me.."
"Still." He felt like she was avoiding his question. "Answer my question on your benevolent god." She blinked a few times, remembering what he said. "Oh right." Always a flutter-brain this one.. "I'm doing fine, thank you for asking."
"That's— that's not what i asked." Did she loose her marble or something? Her stitched smile thinned into a long sharp grin. "But it is what you asked." Vex's (non-existent) brows furrowed. "No, it wasn't," He said slowly. "Are you sure? Look at your hands, then you will get it."
He hesitated, slowly piecing together on what they were saying. But, for once he was hoping he was wrong. He looked down.
Blue ink spilled from the punctures his claws made in her stuffing. Vex released his grip on her, staggering backwards upon contact with shimmering blue blood. ichor— Only three beings of this world could bleed this color; three gods known as Fables, the very beings made to stop him and his goals.
He looked up to her, his face agape with betrayal. She glared at him, "Don't. you Don't get to feel that, not after what you did," Sleeping Beauty hissed at him. the wind lifted the bang covering her left eye, briefly showing what he had left her when parting ways. She was never working for the god of dreams, she is the god of dreams. that explained a lot, the secrets, the why she was adamant on not joining him when he said he could've freed her from Sleeping Beauty's grasp.
They were one of the same. She played him like a fool.
They stared at eachother, unmoving. "You— this entire time, it was you." The very craftling he was suppose to get rid off, to destroy, was the one who he once cared for, the one he let his guard down around. "All those late night talks, time spent with eachother, everything we had back then. How could you." He hated how his voice broke, how this made him feel. a small part of him felt relived despite it, joyous at the revelation that she, the perfect princess had kept a dark secret, not just from him but to all her subjects. "You're really no better then me."
He couldn't even blink before she was right in front of his face, anger pulsing through her expression. he could feel her breath against his face as she was not the overpowering him, pinning him to the closest tree.
"Don't compare me to the likes of you, Nightmare." She growled, voice lower then it was ever before. They looked so different now, not because of the change of wardrobe but how they were handling him. the sweetness was gone and was replaced with something that screamed of power and strength. She acted less like a meek princess and more like for what she really was: A God.
She was so close, so very close. sweat beaded down his fabric as she pressed into him further. Their gaze piercing into him like a needle.
Oh Narrator, he was hopeless.