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Hero opened their eyes. They were laying on the ground, arms out beside them. Blinking, they sat up, surrounded by the offputting environment of the dream world.
Back here again, huh? Why?
This is the third time this week.
Brushing themself off, they stood up. Nothing ever happens here — excluding their first visit, of course — so, they had no idea why they kept ending up back, again and again.
This time, though… they looked around. Isn't this where—
"Hero," a voice spoke from behind them and they flinched, spinning around and drawing their sword.
Greed.
They stared. Greed blinked (?) at them.
"You- you're… I…" Hero stumbled over their words. Why was it back? They killed it, right? They suddenly frowned. "You… You're dead! I killed you!"
"Yeowch," Greed dramatically clutched its chest, its arms almost comically too long for this gesture. "I wouldn't say killed."
Hero stared in confusion, sword held out in front of them, prepared.
"It wasn't pleasant, though! I'll give you that!"
It reached a hand out towards their shoulder. They whacked it with the side of their sword.
"Hey now," it shook its hand off. "Can't we put this behind us? We're all in this together, y'know!"
What?
"We were all on edge, y'get it? He has a habit of doing that!" It glanced up to the side at nothing in particular, seemingly thinking.
Hero kept their sword raised, tense. It had attacked them before, why not now, too?
They weren't safe, they couldn't be safe.
"Greed, you're sc— you're scaring the— scaring the poor guy.." Another voice suddenly appeared. Hero stepped to the side and turned so they could see both figures, eyes wide.
Fear? Why are they back? Are they all back? What about Hatred?
"I'm just trying to talk to 'em! I can't help that they're scared by my very existence!" Greed gestured towards itself, before mumbling a quick, "…although that is pretty cool…"
"Gr— Greed…!" Fear flinched at nothing as it spoke.
"Okay, okay..!"
Greed turned back to Hero, who shakily raised their blade towards it in response.
They glanced back and forth between Greed and Fear. "…Why are you back?"
The two of them looked at each other before looking back to Hero.
Greed smiled — at least, Hero assumed it was a smile. "We never left to begin with!"
Fear fidgeted with its many hands. "We're… we're sorry for… attack— for attacking you."
Hero stared at them both, still shaking.
"We knew that— that Hatred had convinced you that we— that we weren't really… I don't know— real…?" Fear turned away slightly for a moment, turning back soon after to continue, "there wasn't much th— There wasn't much that we could say to, um, convince you otherwise."
"…What?" Hero stood wide-eyed, sword still raised. "What do you… mean?"
Between the two of them, before either could speak, a small area of blue formed on the floor, quickly rising up and forming itself into Solitude. "…Oh, you poor thing…"
Hero stepped back, holding their sword pointed forwards.
Greed shook its head quickly and looked at the other two. "They still don't know? How clear do we have to make it?"
Fear raised two of their hands in front of their torso, drifting forwards slightly. "I'm sure they're t—" they shivered, "I'm sure they're trying! It can't be that simple..!"
Hero's gaze rapidly flicked between the three. "…Why are you all back now? …Is Hatred back? Why not come back sooner?"
Greed waved its hand. "Hatred had us on lockdown, or something… couldn't handle me, I suppose!"
More like wanted a break from you. Hero shook their head.
Solitude quickly butted in, "that is not the reason…!"
Greed continued, "We tried to get to you sooner, but we couldn't."
Hero shook their head. "Can't you just leave me alone? I already dealt with you guys—"
Greed dramatically gasped, "I'm wounded!" It slapped a hand onto its chest. "Dealt with? Yeowch!"
Solitude gestured with its pupil in a way that sort of resembled the shake of a head. "…We aren't to be 'dealt with', Hero… We're meant to… coexist, I suppose…"
Hero slightly lowered their sword. If they were going to attack them, surely they would have by now. They're severely outnumbered, three to one.
But why not?
What if its all a ploy?
What if they just want you to let your guard down? You should get out of here.
You have to leave.
Get out.
Hero felt themself zoning out, though they couldn't tell why.
Greed blinked, its empty face suddenly tinted with an aura of urgency. "Hey, stop that—"
Solitude spoke at the same time, nothing but a simple "Ah— No!—"
Fear simply backed up, shivering.
GET. OUT.
Hero woke up in a cold sweat, jolting upright and breathing heavily. They looked around. Back in the hotel room that they barely remembered falling asleep in.
They had always wished they could just turn off their weird nightmares; press a button and have them all stop.
But with the recent reappearances of that place…
Well, they didn't think it would get any better anytime soon.
It's all just a bad dream, right?
They closed their eyes, inhaling deeply.
Then they exhaled, opening them again.
RIGHT.