Chapter 29: Awakening in the Battlefield 1
His body trembled while his vision became hazy. His hold on reality began to escape him while his mind descended into overwhelming sadness. His environment faded into a hazy blur of colors as the world around him disappeared.
And then.
A mist.
His body performed an automatic response to his grief through natural instinct. His spores released into the air as thick golden particles that shimmered with a faint glow while spreading through delicate waves. The mist moved softly through the air while disappearing into thin air as if expressing a silent sorrow.
He didn't even notice.
His body shook uncontrollably as he wept from the burden of his guilt.
"This is my fault… If I hadn't brought her here… If I had been stronger… If I"
A soft breath.
A twitch.
And then.
SMACK.
A powerful blow struck his face which knocked him backward as he tried to understand what was happening. The step brought his world to whiplash and his thoughts raced from the abrupt shock.
A loud grunt escaped his body as he landed on the ground while his mind struggled to understand what had happened.
"What…?"
And then he saw her.
His companion and friend stood before him. The piglet stood with wobbly stubby legs yet she was fully awake with eyes wide open and full of life.
He stood motionless for a brief instant because the sight before him made no sense to him. She was supposed to be…
Gone.
She stood there unharmed just like she had before the accident.
His breath hitched.
A solitary tear traced his cheek yet this time his emotions were not sad.
She was alive.
The survival of his friend became his only concern.
The piglet blinked several times while shaking her small head to try remembering what had occurred. The mushroom caught her attention as she looked down at his body where it rested on his back with his tiny limbs extended in shock.
A wide, excited grin spread across her face.
With a happy grunt, she rushed toward him.
Before he could even think about sitting up, she was already on him, her small body pressing into his as her stubby tongue licked his face repeatedly.
"ACK! Stop! Wait! Pig!"
She didn't listen.
Her little tail wagged furiously as she continued smothering him with affection, grunting happily between each lick.
The mushroom flailed his tiny arms, trying to push her off, but she was much stronger than she looked.
Still stunned by the turn of events, he could only lay there, overwhelmed by both relief and confusion.
How?
Just moments ago, he had been convinced she was gone. Her body had been still lifeless. He had felt the weight of her absence press down on his soul. But now, she was here, full of energy, licking his face as if nothing had happened.
Something had brought them both back.
But what?
Was it his spores?
He had released them without realizing it. his emotions driving his body to react on its own. But was that truly what saved her? And if so, what did that mean about his abilities?
His thoughts were interrupted when the piglet finally pulled back, staring at him with sparkling eyes. She let out a loud, satisfied grunt before nuzzling into his side.
For the first time in what felt like forever, he allowed himself to smile.
"She's okay."
"We're both okay."
He wiped his eyes, pushing away the remnants of his previous despair. He wasn't sure how they had survived, but at that moment, he didn't care.
The important thing was that they were still alive.
But then.
DOOOOOOOOON!
A deep, powerful sound rippled through the air.
The trumpet.
His entire body went rigid.
Something inside him twitched at the sound. A strange, unseen force gripped his mind, tugging at him, pulling him toward it.
His vision blurred.
His breathing slowed.
His thoughts… faded.
He could hear the piglet beside him, but her voice was distant, like an echo in a vast, empty space. His legs moved on their own. His body felt light. too light.
He was walking.
No…
He wasn't walking.
He was being pulled.
The piglet let out a sharp grunt, snapping at his arm. Her teeth clamped down just enough to hurt but he barely reacted.
The pain was faint.
Distant.
Like he wasn't fully there.
She growled and bit harder, her stubby legs pulling at him, trying to drag him away.
And for a moment, something shifted.
The haze over his mind flickered.
Pain.
His head ached.
His body felt heavy again.
"W-What…?"
He blinked rapidly, suddenly aware of the world around him once more. The piglet was staring at him, her small eyes filled with concern.
Had he… lost control?
His body still felt strange. His heart pounded in his tiny chest, the lingering echoes of the trumpet's call still ringing in his ears.
But before he could process anything, it happened again.
DOOOOOOOOON!
The sound struck him like a physical force. His vision wavered.
And then.
Everything turned black.
The piglet let out a distressed grunt as she watched her friend stagger forward.
His small body trembled, his limbs moving stiffly, like a puppet being controlled by invisible strings.
His eyes once filled with fear, curiosity, and determination were now hollow.
Void of thought.
Void of emotion.
The piglet's heart pounded in her tiny chest.
She had no idea what was happening, but she knew one thing.
She would not let him go.
With a sudden burst of speed, she lunged forward, gripping the small mushroom's arm between her teeth.
She yanked with all her might.
She was trying her best to wake him up by all means necessary.
but.
He didn't react.
His tiny feet dragged against the dirt, his body still pulled toward the sound.
She growled, biting down harder.
Still nothing.
She could feel something pulling him. something she couldn't see and that terrified her.
She would not lose him again.
Digging her hooves into the ground, she threw her entire weight back, pulling him with every ounce of strength in her small body.
She tried to snap him out of the trans by biting harder on his cap.
But just as she thought she was making progress.
DOOOOOOOOON!
The trumpet's call crashed over them like a wave.