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 to

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

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

looked around, trying

room he saw was not very spacious, but also not small. Its 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 sturdy and large, with

pillows on the floor, a tray with succulent fruit on an intricate wooden table, and a large window on one of the walls, opening onto a breathtaking

decor, the room… felt

Sunny frowned.

'Wait a minute…'

room just like this, but far more dilapidated and empty, on the ancient flying ship the Fire Keepers had

clicked in his mind, and his

'Noctis! That lying crook!'

around its mast… only that vessel had not been shattered and wrecked, then recovered

owned by its original captain — the great and

his promise, fashioning a new heart for the shadow demon's body, and even replacing

very nice

didn't mean that Sunny would not still

the fortress, Sunless… what's the worst that could happen, Sunless! I'm going

clenched his fists, almost slicing his own skin apart with the claws. He was full of resentment, fury,

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

in life than harboring thoughts

about instead. The nightmares, the battle with the Shadow

did not receive an opportunity to consider all these

Sunny thinking of his name, the damned sorcerer suddenly opened the door and entered the room, whistling a jolly tune under