Shadow Slave

…There was warmth, sunlight, and the smell of fresh sheets, wood, and green leaves. Sunny slowly opened his eyes and felt the bed beneath him sway gently. No... the world itself had swayed.

It was time to face a new day.

Suddenly overwhelmed by terror, he sat up with a growl, his eyes wildly searching for the signs of danger, disaster, and death. His four hands rose, sharp claws ready to tear flesh apart.

'No, no, no… it was all a dream, I'm in the nightmare again! I never escaped!'

Panic washed over his mind, but the slowly receded.

Sunny remained motionless for a few moments, then lowered his gaze and stared at his four hands. Four… this was the shadow demon's body. He was awake. He was himself… well, the Nightmare version of himself… ah, it was all so convoluted…

He remembered the desolate fortress, the endless torments he had dreamt of, the fearsome battle with the black steed, and his eventual victory. The terrible pain of his last heart giving out.

…Tu-tum-tu-tump. Tu-tum-tu-tump. Tu-tum-tu-tump.

Hearing the strange sound, Sunny looked at his chest.

His three shadows were sprawled on the ground, so the rough skin of the shadow demon had lost its obsidian color and was back to its original complexion, as pale and grey as it had been back when he first entered the Nightmare. There was a thin, barely noticeable scar running vertically from his collarbone to his abdomen.

And beneath it… tu-tum-tu-tump… two mighty hearts were beating steadily, circulating rivers of blood through the gaunt, towering body of the four-armed demon.

He blinked a couple of times.

'I am… alive?'

alive, but he also seemed

that his two missing fingers were now back, be it of a slightly different color and seemingly carved out of ashen, polished wood. He

texture of the skin on his palms pressing against their tips. His two new

looked around, trying to understand where

walls and ceiling were made out of wood, and so was the floor, hidden under an opulent plush rug. The bed he lay upon was

of bright sitting pillows on the floor, a tray with succulent fruit on an

decor, the room… felt

Sunny frowned.

'Wait a minute…'

but far more dilapidated and empty,

his mind, and his vertical

'Noctis! That lying crook!'

onboard the magnificent sky vessel that had a beautiful tree growing around its mast… only that vessel had not been shattered

by its original captain — the great and powerful

fashioning a new heart for the shadow demon's body, and even replacing the fingers Sunny had lost while trying to learn how to

was very nice

still enjoy ripping the bastard

lying sack of monster crap! Spend the night in the fortress, Sunless… what's the worst

slicing his own skin apart with the claws. He was full of resentment, fury, and vengeful

to hide his fangs and make a sour face. Yes… the thought of making the deceitful sorcerer squirm felt very nice. But no matter how weak

more productive things in life than harboring thoughts

to think about instead. The nightmares, the battle with the Shadow stallion, the rewards he had received after emerging victorious

he did not receive an opportunity to consider

suddenly opened the door and entered the room, whistling a jolly tune under his