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?'

also seemed

his gaze back to his hands and noticed that his two missing fingers were now back, be it of a slightly different color and seemingly carved out of ashen, polished wood. He tentatively made his hands into fists, and saw the wooden fingers bend as if they were no different

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

and looked around, trying

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

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

lavish decor, the room… felt familiar,

Sunny frowned.

'Wait a minute…'

far more dilapidated and empty, on the ancient flying ship the Fire Keepers had

something clicked in his mind, and his

'Noctis! That lying crook!'

growing around its mast… only that vessel had not been shattered and

original captain — the great and powerful

and kept his promise, fashioning a new heart for the shadow demon's body, and even replacing the fingers Sunny had lost while

was very nice of

not still enjoy ripping the bastard limb

crap! Spend the night in the fortress, Sunless… what's the worst

fists, almost slicing his own skin apart with the

few moments, 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

in life than harboring

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

he did not receive an opportunity to consider all these important and

suddenly opened the door