Sobbing, Crying (Tag to Episode 37)

[hophophopper]

This wasn't supposed to happen!

You hadn't been gone very long - you hadn't gone very far, you couldn't get to the fields from the story and back in a day, Houtaro would worry! - and you'd come back just in time to help.

Or so you'd thought.

Then, behind you - behind you - the King of Malice is there, and the other two Sisters. He laughs, and your friends are scared

And suddenly you can't get away.

Then you're whirled around, and there's pain, but you've faced that before

Shifting, it almost seems you've pushed it away - but it's still there, the pain, the laughing, and still you scream

(you didn't realize you were screaming)

Something jagged crosses your nerves, your new body - NOT yours! - launching itself at your friends

You still try and scream, try to grasp at something - anything! - to stop this.

Things blur; something bothers you and you bite it but then it's gone

Someone - the Dark King? - is yanking at you. You see light before you, but it's not That Light, and it doesn't touch what's inside of- what's controlling you.

(you're still screaming)

and-

and-

(blood blood why's there so much blood?)

no no no no no no nonononono-

Don't let me do this!

---
[Sometimes Hopper1 wakes up, fearing it will remember having killed someone. But that does not happen - it checks on its partner, checks on Houtaro, then wills the memories away and goes back to sleep.]

---

This wasn't supposed to happen!

First, they (everyone) don't tell you what's going on. Then your partner dashes off without asking for help.

(Damnit! They could have at least used the buddy system... Or you could have gone with them. And left Houtaro alone?)

Then the next time you do see them... Gigist is right there. If you'd had a human heart, it would have stopped.

And it's down to you again. Just like...!

Why are you always hurting the ones you care about?!
---
[Sometimes it's not Hopper1 it's attacking - sometimes it's Skebows again, or one of the other vehicle Chemies. The ones that, before they knew where ExceedFighter was, were your responsibility. Yours to protect.

Sometimes it's Antrooper, or Zukyunpire, or TimeLord, or WarpTerra.

And not only are they dead (gone, not just drained)... but Houtaro is too.]

[In the wake of those dreams, Steamliner feels like it deserves to be alone. Those are also when Hopper1 wakes up too, and cuddles in close.]