Oneiro makes sure to get his point across to his brother, even if he has to use extreme actions. Ordeal is beyond stressed while the two familiars are having the time of their lives

——

SwapDream

Oneiro didnt say a word as his brother talked, walking through the land which long ago used to to be their home while he made sure to take in every word Ordeal said. Without even thinking about it the two made it to the place they had been 'born', the tree stump still looking like it had merely been cut merely yesterday with not a sign of age on it.

It was almost funny how quickly some memories came back to him when so much of his past still felt like a fuzzy mess, the apples really having destroyed his sanity more then he could ever imagine. That was only proved as he explored other multiverses and saw others of his type, the animal ferocity they fought with little logical thought behind their actions feeling like a warped mirror.

It had truly made him look on his past actions with a new light and was actually the start of gaining some sort of logical thought and scrambling to fight against the insanity that seemed to be trying to drown him everyday. It had been a painful process that felt like an uphill battle and only felt he was actually getting somewhere when he actually managed to further pull back his attacks whenever he encountered his brother.

Accidently learning to travel multiverse had truly changed his life in a positive way but he wasn't delusional enough to think he would ever be 'healed', knowing his insanity was here to stay for good no matter how much others wished otherwise. It was entrenched into his very being, almost like a punishment in a way for eating the apples.

He didn't regret it though, thinking no matter the times he had to repeat this life he wouldn't change that event ever as it gave him the power needed to protect what he actually cared about and gain a child in the end.

He would bathe in the dust of millions if need be to protect what was his

He frankly no longer cared if that made him a true monster and was more then happy to get his hands dirty in place of his twin, never wanting then to feel pressured into taking a life or partake in large destruction which he knew weighed more on them then himself.

The two brothers stood next to the site of the old tree, their home for many years with Ordeal looking bittersweet while Oneiro was blank, the memories of actual childhood long since gone for the Dream type.

The last time both brothers had been here was a good few years ago, just when Swap 'obtained' kidnapped Karma, it ironic how that single moment would be the catalyst for the largest change for both of their lives.

It was amusing how such a small monster could change so much in seemingly such a short period of time, neither saying a word while they were lost in thought, the sound of the two familiars playing in the meadow the main sound in the long abandoned AU.

"...did you know that kitsune have very different meanings depending on the culture and even multiverse?~"

Ordeal dragged his eyes away from the stump and looked back at his brother, unsure where this was going but staying silent for now, feeling a great weight leave his chest after sharing all his worries with his brother and only feeling support down the twin bond that helped soothe most of his fears for judgement.

He logically knew it was a stupid fear, pretty sure he could do so many atrocities and would still be welcomed back in open arms, as he was the exact same to Oneiro and would never change. They were his twin, his first friend and companion, the one who was there during the storms and tried to defend him from the villagers who had ruined it all.

"It's kind of fascinating really. They are in so many in media and fiction that its hard to tell the truth from. It's rather fascinating how simple belief can even change what exactly a kitsune is, it so interesting how many interpretations there are out there~"

Oneiro shared softly as he looked over the AU, spotting the rubble of the old village he had crushed it in his hands and made sure ThEy couldn't hurt his BrOther shaking off the flashbacks as he tried to keep on track.

"One thing i found interesting was that in stories it was a common theme that how you treated a kitsune would affect how they would turn out. They could be positive sources, sometimes worshipped as protectors, general spirits that caused innocent pranks but no true harm, rather playful creatures really~"

Ordeal frowned as he listened, having a feeling he knew the direction of the topic and looking over at the two familiars which were yipping while bouncing in the fields, watching how Sol playfully tackled Luna while being mindful of the smaller Kitsune's size.

"..but in the stories where there was war, where the kitsune were reviled and hated, those sort of emotions just festering in the air, well...they were far from good in the sense. Pure destruction really, the cause of disaster and misfortune.~"

Oneiro said lightly while his magic sparked due to his heavy thoughts, his demeanour calm while his eyes were a storm of emotion, taking a deep breath to push it back.

"Their environment can affect them. Kitsune are hardly good or evil in any sense but its those around them that inevitably affect how they turn out. It would be nice having better sources but living kitsune are so rare due to superstition making them practically extinct~"

"I-I don't understand what this has to do-"

"You arent evil, Nightmare. No one is purely evil and whoever says that is true is a pure idiot. The villagers were wrong on so many levels. Afterall, they did consider me the good twin~"

Oneiro said almost playfully if it wasnt for the serious edge to his words, making sure to be firm and that this wasnt up for argument.

"Thats hardly the same thing. My magic is-"

"You have Negativity magic! I have Positivity magic and yet my LOVE far outnumbers what you could ever dream of. Magic types make no difference~"

He near hissed at their stubbornness, refusing to let his brother practically hurt themselves with this stupid belief that meant they held back if they ever got into a serious fight, his SOUL clenching in worry at the thought of that ever happening and not being there to help.

"You cannot keep doing this. Your are hurting yourself. You are hurting Luna. They are far smaller then they should be at this stage. What do you think will happen if you keep doing this and limiting your magic~"

He pressed on without mercy, throwing facts sharply in their face and wanting to make sure they fully understand the seriousness of their actions. He grabbed their wrist when they tried to turn away, his touch firm but not painful as he made them look at him.

"Did you think I wouldn't notice how your bones are looking rather pale lately?~"

He said almost mockingly, his smile sharp as he eyed how dim the purple glow on their bones was, his own gold magic far more sharp and clear in the deceptively delicate structure of his own bones.

"Do you even let your magic out anymore? Do you keep it locked under lock and key?~"

He said dangerously softly as he felt a pitiful attempt of Ordeal's magic rise up in response to his own and with a seeming cruel smile he hadn't shown since first eating the apples he practically drowned the surrounding area with his golden magic.

"What are you doing, Ordeal? What do you want? Do you perhaps want Positivity to burn you out. I can do that, you know. I've done it to many Nightmares before and it would hardly take much to snuff out your own. Is this what you want your counterpart to do to you? Do you need cleansing of your sins by a higher being, Negativity Guardian? TeLl Me?~"

Ordeal near choked on the positivity magic, the cruel mocking in his twins voice giving him flashbacks to the past, their halo and wings looking almost drenched in blood as the sun started to fall. This should have terrified him, should have made him run...but yet he didn't feel afraid at all.

The magic wasn't scorching like it was in the past, it felt heavy but rather felt like a warm blanket in the cold, soothing to the SOUL and almost making him tear up at how it felt so similar to how his brother's magic felt long before the apples. So much had changed over the years, his brother had come so far...and yet he himself couldn't seem to move forward at all.

It was like he was stuck in time, still the small child who came back to his brother, scared and terrified as he watched the wings burst out their back. How the screaming changed to maniacal laughter and then his life changed forever. He blamed himself for it all over the years, with every bit of destruction his brother did and every fight, feeling like he was a curse to his brother, just like the villagers said.

He looked down when he heard movement, brought out of his darkening thoughts by the two familiars sitting next to Oneiro either side, neither seeming bothered by the magic in the air but both giving him intense looks.

The gold and purple eyes almost looked into his SOUL, feeling laid bare and so very fragile. It almost hurt to see the size difference in the familiars, all the facts being thrown at him without respite, wanting to refute them but the familiar words he often used to deflect seemed caught in his throat.

"..do you consider me evil, Ordeal? Irredeemable? Perhaps better off locked away?~"

The sudden softness of the question was a drastic tone change but he didnt even need to compute the words before he was automatically shaking his head and made eye contact with Oneiro, the pain in his twins eyes hurt and he wanted to look away but couldn't seem to do so.

"Why not? If you consider yourself bad then surely im worse? You do know i was indeed trying to kill your friends in the early days? Ive destroyed things without mercy and will continue to do so if it keeps what is mine safe~"

Oneiro said almost playfully, a sharp intensity in his eyes as he dared Ordeal to lie to him, to make excuses how they were different due to something as stupid as magic types.

"What about Karma? Death is bad, therefore he must be as well, no? His magic can easily cause death. By your logic they are 'evil'~"

He said mock thoughtfully, imitating the stupid sheep who he knew said similar things to Ordeal in the past, forcing them to see it was all lies and make them see the truth, his smile gaining some triumph when he felt Ordeal's magic spark against his fingers in protest to his words but he still held their wrist to make them listen to his words.

"You know the villagers were idiots, Ordeal. You've explored other multiverses and seen for yourself how they are usually the cause of how our 'story' goes. They are strangers that words shouldn't be listened to. Their opinions are no better than trash~"

He hissed sharply, eyelights burning and releasing his hold when Ordeal's magic sparked a bit stronger. His magic abruptly returned to him, the surround no longer drenched in a golden hue with the AU now eerily silent.

"...did you know that Sol wasnt born with pure white fur?~"

Ordeal felt confused and warily shook his head, pretty sure the two familiars were basically identical apart from the eye colour, watching as Oneiro kneeled down and pushed back some of Sol's fur on their chest and his eyes widened at the scattered black tufts that was practically hidden in the white fur.

"It's a natural process apparently. Familiars are a reflection of the monsters afterall and im hardly a well adjusted monster~"

Oneiro wasnt ashamed of any of it, loving Sol the way they were and just wanting his brother to stop hiding themselves out of some misplaced fear and in a smooth motion picking up Luna who dramatically flopped in his arms, huffing in amusing.

"You happen to have a pure white fur ball here. You should really read the book on familiars, Ordeal. They are reflections of us after all~"

He truly thought the kitsune species was perfect form for the two of them, a creature affected by their surroundings and emotions directed to it, truly a fascinating species and one day he wished to see a wild one.

"...just think about what i said, Ordeal~"

He said gently when he saw how overwhelmed his brother was, the talk having gone better then he thought and while Ordeal might not have noticed he observed how Luna was receiving a trickle more magic, some progress gained even if it wasn't enough for his liking.

Baby steps, he needed to do baby steps and he hoped this would be the start of the change he knew his brother was capable of, wanting them to flourish rather then this almost timid monster in front of him.

He would get it done, no matter how long as his brother deserved to be truly happy.

~~~~~~~~

Ordeal: *Sharing his fears of becoming a monster* I just dont want to become a bloodthirsty monster, you know?

Oneiro: *Listening while also knowing he himself would destroy the omniverse to keep his family safe*

-

Ordeal: *Guilt complex, trauma from the villagers and self hatred* Maybe its best i dont just use my magic

Oneiro: *Ready to force Ordeal to deal with all these issues by any means possible, a dangerous glint growing in his eyes* I think we need a very long talk~

-

Oneiro: *Dumping all the facts and smacking Ordeal with counter arguments left right and centre like a ruthless lawyer* Do you understand now?~

Ordeal: *Overwhelmed, thoughtful and slightly scared* ...that was the most intense speech you have ever made in front of me

Sol and Luna: *Looking very pleased how the conversation went and not batting an eye at Oneiros wild displays*

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