castaside | [Heart Game] From the ashes we can build

The strikes would have definitely killed him if not for the shield. He kept blocking and trying to hit the damn staff with his dagger. Maybe he could do something do it. Counter the staff maybe? But MK was starting to get desperate and flustered. This felt too much like possessed Wukong but if he talked. If he shouted at him and it wasn't helping MK's mental state after all those other floors.

"Help him r-remove the-ack! The block! We're trying to help fix his soul! I-I mean...kinda! AH!" MK flailed as another strike hit.

"I JUST WANT MACAQUE TO BE HAPPY!" MK yelled as he moved forward, desperation winning out and sliced at Bloodkong's waist.

"Kinda? You don't have any idea what you're really doing here. You want to help him, but you're just fumbling around in the dark. As usual."

The dagger slices through Bloodkong, separating a piece of it. Unfortunately (?), it forms its own person... a Blood-MK. Uh...

"Welp! Here we are again. You and me, bud." That last word is dripping with derision. "Now what? It's your show, so this had better be good."

"Maybe I don't think about things like I should! You're right but I know why I'm here! His eyes widen at the blood him! That was so creepy! And then it was talking and MK felt his heart starting to race. He was sweating as his breathing became heavier. Korone's voice rang out.

"I'm TRYING!" He yelled back as he raised the shield. "I want Macaque to be happy! He can't be if he can't feel things. And it's spreading. It's tearing his soul apart! I'll do whatever it takes, in here and out there. I just want him to be happy! To know that we all accept him no matter what!"

"He won't be happy, but at least with us helping to block his feelings, he won't be miserable. Maybe he'd rather feel nothing than to feel what he felt, did you ever think of that?"

Bloodkong and Blood-MK both launch strikes at MK but they all glance off the shield. The strikes seem less powerful than before, that must be what the dagger did. More voices but less intense strikes, it's a hell of a trade-off.

"You didn't accept him no matter what. You pushed him. Pushed him to try to get him to be what you wanted. And you're not going to stop pushing him, are you?"

MK couldn't tell if this was better or worse than before. More voices and one of them was his. He kept his shield up and blocked the incoming strikes.

"I'm sorry! I didn't want to push him into being someone or something else! I just wanted to be closer. I didn't want to lose him. I know I messed up! But I know he doesn't want this! He doesn't want to feel nothing. He doesn't want to not feel this anymore!"

MK dug in his heels and waited for another strike from Bloodkong. Then he slashed at him again with the dagger, even if it left him open for an attack from his bloodself.

"Macaque did this because he wanted us all to be happy! He did this because he wanted to be able to be happy with all of us. And we want that for him. We're going to help him be happy when he can feel everything again. I'm not going to push. I'll apologize for pushing and I'll make sure to figure out what I want. But we can't do that if he can't feel anything at all!"

Blood-MK laughs cruelly. "You wanted to be closer, but then you don't know what you want. You're just a mess, aren't you? What makes you think you're not awful for him?"

Bloodkong strikes the shield twice harmlessly, and is rearing back for another shot when MK's dagger strikes him, severing an arm. Unfortunately not the arm carrying his blade, but the blood sloshes to the ground and the arm doesn't seem to be growing back. Small favors.

MK growled now.

"I know I'm a mess! If you were really me, you'd already know that!" He barked and sliced off the arm. Oh. Oh that was unsettling and didn't help his growing panic attack. Which he was trying desperately to smother with anything he could think of. Indignant rage? Probably not the best idea but who said MK had good ideas? Everyone. Ever. Dammit. He needed to get in control.

"I don't know where we're gonna end up! Okay! But I know I want to be close. And he said I'm not! Have I thought about it? Yeah! But Macaque says I'm not and I'm going to believe him. No more doubt. No more second guessing. I believe Macaque and I want him to be happy. No matter what! I want to be happy with him. In whatever way we do and what we choose!"

Blood-MK laughs. "Whatever makes you think that I'm you?"

Blood-MK shrinks back a bit when MK says that he's not going to doubt or second guess anymore. He's not done, but the pause is notable.

"You say no more second-guessing, but you can't second-guess something that doesn't exist. If you don't know what you want, it's not so much second guessing as it is complete failure."

"I might not know what I don't want. Sure! I get that. But I do know what I want for Macaque. I want him to be happy. I want him to be able to smile, be accepted, and know no matter what we end up being that I'm here. I'm not going anywhere! I'm his North Star and I want to help him be happy in anyway I can. No matter what. I know that much! And that's what I'm going to do!"

Bloodkong and Blood-MK pause. They look at each other. They look at MK.

"Then stop doubting yourself and do it."

And with that, they both dissolve into pink mist.

MK blinked as they disappeared.

The prove us wrong.

"I'll try."

MK-san! [ A quick shout from Korone! ] When you said you want Macaque to be happy, my ring shone brighter! That means you're on the right track!

You've got this, MK-san!

MK wanted to give a thumbs up but he's currently dealing with a Blood MK!

"I'm TRYING!" He yelped. Thanks Korone. He'll keep focusing on that. At least, he'll try!

[Heart Game] From the ashes we can build

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CLEAR

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