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April Fools 2025: Future Awakened! (Part 2)
🕑 Added 2025-04-02 08:17:00 +0000 UTCA triumphant Galia stepped beside Joy. The white scales of her arms were now brilliant gold, as were the highlights in her hair.
“Days turn to years. Years to decades. Decades to centuries. In due time, a millennium will pass, and heroic feats will be cast aside as either rumors, legends or go down as religious truth.”
Galia overwhelmed her with her philosophical drawl, only to then break into an almost motherly smile when she gazed upon the triplets.
“What I mean is – How are you doing? Beholders seldomly engage in casual talk.”
Joy’s face lit up.
Catching with the Beholders and the higher ups was a rare opportunity. Even after the war, when all wars had ended, the Beholders remained reclusive. But that would be a lie as well.
Take Galia for example.
“My hypothesis on the nature of Light and light still requires some additional work. I’d like to visit Earth some time and see if they have found a penultimate answer.”
She had returned to research. Or Knalzark even, who was here in a two-piece suit rather than martial arts garbs. He could even shake people’s hands!
In the corner of her eyes, she potted a blonde, short haired woman talking to a long grey-haired one. They spoke in a series of “Bzzzt.” And “Brrrs.”, since they were the humanoid version of Snap and Rockie.
A certain humanoid Shadewolf boy could also be seen shadowing Red in a butler outfit.
And finally – a trumpet sounded. It wasn’t the same horn-like blare that heralded the apocalypse. It was a playful toot that caused the children to turn with bright eyes.
“Magnificent! My goodness! Isn’t she amazing!?” Magus began calling out, applauding as he wiped faux tears away.
A figure dressed in a blue tailcoat suit then murmured:
“My friend, she’s not even here yet.”
“Ah but my good friend, is the presence that I am applauding.” Magus snapped back, clapping twice as hard.
A pair of golden eyes suddenly appeared from the maze of flowers ahead. A small girl with white hair and fair skin walked out into the open, her eyes shining like stars. She froze in place, timid and afraid of seeing so many people at once.
“Mn. They’re all friends. They just look different because they’re happy to see you.”
Ignis took her hand. She stood head and shoulders above the child. And why wouldn’t she? Ignis wasn’t the small child that people remembered, or the genius who revolutionized the concept of Healing as people knew it.
She was a Beholder now, with decades of experience – perhaps centuries – under her belt. Her eyes were much fuller and glistened with boundless love. The scowl she used to always wear was gone, like a bad dream.
Atop her head was a small crown with a faint (OwO), as was sacredly inscribed by the Slime Queen – for Ignis was the Slime Goddess. Decorating her crimson military-esque apparel were trinkets from over thirty Slime Kingdoms, each who had devoted themselves to the Nexus and Ignis.
Beside them was one of the purest souls of the Nexus.
Ilya – the daughter of the Arbiter.
The timid little girl walked hand in hand with two of Frost’s most trusted friends. Confetti and applause followed wherever she went.
Today was a special day.
It was her birthday. Now that she had turned six years old, she would be allowed to participate in the Academy of Magic. And not only her…
“Beryl…! And Ceres!” The girl’s eyes brightened as she rushed towards them, pulling along a plush toy in the shape of the Little Frost. “Aunty Cer!”
“Heh. Good to know I’m the first one you recognize!” Cer smirked, showing off to her sisters.
“When are you going to give me a friend too?”
“Ghk!? Huh!?”
“Yeah, when are you going to?”
“Good point. Cer. Why are you still delaying it?”
“Cer… You’re not… seeing someone else… right?”
The Healers agreed with the child, and they became up in arms about why she didn’t even try to.
“Right. Make some kids for mine to bully.” Ber chuckled, only for Perla to pinch her tail. “I mean… to make friends with ours~!”
“Snow! See! Now everyone wants kids! We can’t be the last one or our kid’s going to get bullied!”
“Red, if you don’t shut up…” Snow tugged on Red’s loose tie and brought her close. “… Then it might happen sooner than you think.”
“Heh. What are you, gonna be the big bad wolf?”
“I was thinking the Wicked Witch. Gonna make you grow an apple in there.”
Snow thought she was sly, and that Red would crumble under her intense seductive power.
However, Red could only tilt her head.
“You’re gonna make me eat an apple seed? Tch. Like my friend Dorothy. She told me she ate a watermelon seed. It took her nine months to get rid of it from her belly. Scary. That’s why I just eat the skin of a passionfruit!”
“Haaaaah. It’s the gunpowder that’s made you dumb after all this time, right?”
“Nope. It’s me being drunk on you~” Red giggled and slipped away, leaving Snow to burn red.
She didn’t expect to be counter attacked.
No… Was Red playing dumb?
“Big sis!” The little girl finally found Joy.
Immediately, she leaped into her arms and gave her a big hug.
“You’re here too! Pick me up!? Are we going back home!?”
“Mhm.”
“Up there!?” She pointed to the Nexus.
“Yep. We’re all heading up now.”
*
Joy became the big sister for all the children, with the Beryl and Ceres calling her aunty.
It was enough to move a grown woman. Although that happiness would fade whenever they would run into trouble.
“Someone left a cupcake behind! Mine! Nom!”
Beryl devoured a lovely cupcake.
“Aahhh! Nav’s going to get mad!” Anna cried.
“Woah! Books about… the book is whispering to me!”
“Don’t listen to the voices!” Anna closed the book before they could be dragged into it.
“This pen…?”
“Ahhh!?”
Suddenly, a floating, detached hand pulled the little Amalgam away before she could touch it. This belonged to Joy. It was one of her Abilities.
“Don’t touch what isn’t yours. Do you want mom to be mad?” She scolded.
“Mom… nuh uh. Mom never gets mad!” The girl swung her arms around defiantly, all the while Beryl and Ceres swarmed her legs, bitting and punching her.
“Put her down evil aunt!”
“Evil sister!”
The Aster-triplets just watched, while a fully-grown Star Child sat behind them, drinking from a juice box.
“Then how about ‘dad’?” Joy warned.
This caused the girl’s face to turn pale.
“Haaah!? No! Nu uh. Don’t tell! She always eats my share when I do something bad.”
It was Jury. The ‘dad’. Her way of punishing her was to eat her snacks, or do the ‘here comes the airplane’ only to plop it into her own mouth.
Truly traumatic. Even Joy was subjected to this torture long ago.
“Then behave.”
“… Okie.” The girl promised.
“Problematic, aren’t they?” Anna giggled, right as a smaller version of her emerged.
“Mama… Book…?”
“Oh, you’re finished already? Hmm. Ah! Why don’t you go with aunty Joy. Nav’s reading to the Healers right now.”
“Read…”
The black-haired, red-eyed girl looked up at Joy through her round, oversized glasses.
Joy had been thinking about it for a while now, but where did her daughter get her red eyes from?
“Sure~ Wanna hold my hand?”
“Mhm.” The girl nodded, but was suddenly tackled by Beryl.
“Fwend! It’s Sinda! Sinda! Are you reading boring books again?”
“Sinda! Come paint with me next time!” Ceres tugged her other hand, fighting with her cousin over who got to play with Sinda.
“Help…?”
“I’ll save you!” The little Amalgam held out the hands of her plush and used it to lightly punch the girls. “Unhand her!”
“Waaah! It’s the Head!”
“Runnn!”
They scattered, leaving Anna to laugh as her Bookkeepers went to chase after them before they could venture deeper into the Eternal Library.
“Such a handful. You were never like that Joy. Thank goodness you grew up to be an amazing aunt~”
“Thanks to my m-moms…”
“Ahaha. Yup. I hope Sinda grows up to be just like you. Um –!”
“Anna? Oh, you’re talking to someone?”
A masculine voice spoke out.
It was a voice that Joy barely recognized. She had only ever heard this person, but never saw their face. However, she knew they couldn’t be a bad person.
Immediately, Anna began hugging her flaming mantle, flushing like a maiden in love before departing.
“I’m coming back now~ Sorry Joy. I’ll see you next time~ Coming~!”
“… Anna, would it be fine to arrange the books like this?”
“Yup! Is this your first time arrange books?”
“… It has been an awfully long time since I have ‘touched’ something.”
Another voice spoke as she caught strands of white hair. It belonged to a woman.
And it sounded awfully close to her mother’s. Jury’s voice.
Given that the Aberrations of Elysia existed, it was likey that this person was also an Aberration.
Are they…?
Joy couldn’t tell.
*
They climbed the Floors of the Nexus, coming across various couples and children of the Nexus. Retired Stars and Moons called the Middle Sanctums home now. With no need to constantly create crystals to fuel wars, it could now be used as a sanctuary.
In there, one of the most notorious Stars – the Vampyria – slept in the grass beside a blindfolded woman. Moons like Lunaria could be found sharing a smoking pipe with her quadruplet daughters and sons (old enough to smoke!).
Patrolling these areas were the Hired Arm, Taleor and other versions of Frost, such as the Buff Frost, the Midnight Frost, the Happy Frost, the Wide Frost, and the Frost Frost.
Further above, they passed by Lailah and Michaela who could be seen laughing in each other’s presence. Dark Memoria stalked the halls, as did the White Rabbit and several other Aberrations of Elysia to maintain the Thresholds.
And finally, when they reached the Floor of Amalgamation…
“Wooooah.” The little Amalgam never failed to be awed by the splendor of her home.
They walked towards the hill where the Amalgam’s manor sat. Through the windows they could see the Sleepy Frost being pampered by eight Mothers. When their eyes met, one of the Mothers apologetically closed the curtains.
The fate of the Sleepy Frost was left in their hands.
Slowly, ever so slowly, they climbed the hill till they reached a single oak tree.
Beneath it were dozens of child-like Healers and the Little Frost.
They sat around a figure who’s back rested against the tree.
“Ah. Please, sit down. Come join us. This story has just begun.”
That soft, velvety voice was accompanied by a smile like no other.
It belonged to a human Nav.
She became the grandmother of all Healers – their cradle who watched over them whilst the rest of the world went about their duties. Since becoming human, she had combat abilities or any means to defend herself.
But she had found purpose in looking after the kin of those who had looked after her in the past.
Besides, judging by the smile and her enthusiasm, Nav found joy in reciting these tales…
… because she too could experience and imagine them herself. The world would shift to match the scene, immersing the children.
Afterwards, she closed the book, then dismissed them with a smile and a basket of golden apples.
“Come back tomorrow at the same time~”
“””“Thank you miss Nav!””””
Joy and the little Amalgam were the last to leave.
But before they could move, Nav offered the girl an extra apple.
“Don’t tell your mother~”
“Thanks nanny!”
“You’re quite welcome.” Nav melted, patting her head.
The moment the girl tried to take bite from the apple…
“Ohh. Is she being greedy again~?”
A hand took it and bit from the apple before promptly returning it.
“Sweet.”
“Aaaaah! Mom! No! My apple! How dare you!”
It was Jury. She lifted her shades and winked at them teasingly.
“Hmhm!” Jury was proud of her feat.
Just then, a metal ladle wacked the back of her head.
“Dear. Don’t go bullying our daughters. Haaah. Geez. Jury. Do you like sleeping on the couch that much?”
“… Sowwy.” Tears formed in the corners of Jury’s eyes.
“Momma!”
“Ah… M-Mom…”
Joy leaped into the lap of a long, straight-haired Frost. She wore black pants, a sweater and a white apron. She had rushed out when she heard that her daughters had arrived but was not quick enough to stop Jury from her antics.
The current Frost had immense feminine charm. Her chest had even grown considerably compared to when Joy first met them. The largest change was her hair. The messiness used to give her so much rugged, rough character.
But now, Frost looked just like – well, a mother. Especially in those casual clothes.
Compared to Jury who looked like she had just returned from the front lines (of paperwork).
“Dear, happy birthday~ Did Joy take you to look around the city?”
“Mhm! I love big sis!”
“Don’t we all~” Frost opened her spare arm, inviting Joy into the hug.
“Love… you.”
“Hm? Can you say it again? Haha~ I’m kidding. I know. Geez. You two are dusty. [Cleanse]. Are you staying here, Joy?”
“I was thinking about going back… since I’m at the Academy now.”
“Nope~” Jury’s tail wrapped around hers. “You’re staying here tonight!”
“Eh!?”
“Yay! Sis is staying!”
“Wait – But I got –!”
“Isolation Sphere – 100x.” Jury smirked. “No excuses. Don’t try to run away from our love!”
“Unless you really need to?” Frost asked.
“… No. I can stay.” Joy hugged her back. “… Thanks.”
*
The palm of the little Amalgam held the hands of her parents.
She didn’t know anything about the wars, who and what Frost and Jury were, or what the world was really like.
That was because she was born into a world where this was unnecessary. At least for now, she’d be raised in a world Stars no longer fell, and where the Corruption has been mostly thwarted. It was a perfect world where even Frost was comfortable in letting her study outside of the Nexus (but within Nexus-controlled territory).
Unbeknownst to her was that she was proof that they had made it.
That they had finally reached the end.
That everything had ever done…
… was not for naught.
“… Oh, Amalgam? Um…”
The Sleepy Frost approached Frost that night.
“Yes?”
“It takes… nine months, right? To dispense one? The Mothers are asking.”
“… Congratulations…?”
