Chapter Text
"Thanks, Kris..."
Noelle quietly breaths a sigh of relief. Thankfully Kris is willing to help me... Angel I can't imagine having to find my way out of here alone! She waits for a minute, expecting Kris to lead the way. Instead they stare at nothing inside the alleyway crevice. Why is Kris staring at the wall? Is there moss or something? Noelle giggles to herself a little while waiting for Kris, remembering them getting lectured on not eating wall moss. A couple seconds after, Kris starts moving in the wrong path. "K... Kris...? Isn't that the wrong way...?" Somehow I'm already regretting this... Kris stops looking at her, turning around, and continues to lead the way.
Kris leads her straight unto an attacker. Noelle is shivering and scared: It is freaky and odd in all the wrong ways. Its "skin" is bright pink, and its entire body is sharp and made up of geometric shapes. Its left arm and leg are connected and make an arrow. It is the same story with the right half of its appendages. Its torso is a weird blue triangle, and its eyes are weird spirals. It is sweating, as it seems to be sick. Noelle is obviously startled and asks for explanation.
"H-huh!? What's going on!? What are we doing!?"
"Oh boy... is this your first time in a battle?", the enemy asks its own question.
"Y-yes? Wait you can speak!?" , Noelle responds.
"Well-", The enemy tries to say.
"ACT", "Kris" says.
"W-What?", Noelle meekly asks Kris.
"Proceed." It says. It points at Noelle, their eyes look wider than usual. Noelle looks at them, and she unconsciously takes a step back. Kris points their other thumb at the enemy and nods slightly, their other hand still points at her.
ACT? It's something I do to the enemy? I... I saw Susie and Kris bump their cars into Berdly's, even when he was striking them. Is that what acting is? Beating the enemy peacefully?
Noelle points at the enemy and says to it desperately: "Uh... I-I hope you get better...?"
Kris turns to the enemy and raises up their shield. Noelle sees that it is shooting purplish, pinkish arrows from multiple sides, and follows Kris' step when they weave out of the way. Thankfully, they, and by extension her, are hit by none.
Kris tells her to ACT, this time they look at her calmly and do not say it so ominously. She points at the enemy, but before she says something hearts come out of her finger?! The enemy starts smiling and does a peace sign with its arrow hand. Before Noelle can ask what just happened, Kris looks to the attacker and points at them as well. The enemy and goes away. Kris turns and walks away. Noelle assumes they, Kris, are content?
Why did Kris do... that? Why did they look scared too? Why did that thing not say anything after being interrupted? What WAS that thing? Why was Kris' voice so different!? I just wanna go home... Why did I have to end up here? Why couldn't I just hang out with Susie? But, before she can really think on these things, another battle begins. Then another. Then another. Then Another.
I've gone through... seven battles, or at least I think it is around seven? We're still not going the right way too.
...
I always have to ACT, or SPARE the enemy. But Kris chooses to DEFEND themself, or SPARE too. Why do I have to ACT? I saw them do it before on Berdly...
...
Noelle clears her throat to get their attention.
"Uh... Kris. I have a question..." Kris stops walking and turns around to face her. Nervously, she says what she wonders. "Um... why do I have to do the ACT part? D-Don't take this the wrong way! I'm just... wondering! I saw you ACT earlier when fighting Berdly... s-so..."
Kris stands still and looks at her for a few seconds before replying.
"Noelle will become stronger."
Wait. What?
"You're... doing this for me? S-so I get stronger?" It is making me braver. I'm getting better at staying composed. I'm not hurting anyone. And, if I keep practicing my healing magic... I could heal my dad. So, this is good.
Kris slowly nods. Noelle does not notice how hesitant it is.
Noelle breaths in and out then tries to focus. When she composes herself, she puts on a smile.
"Okay then. Should we find some more enemies?"