Save State Hero 3 -ch 7-

Chapter 7

“Well, my Eddy-Teddy, dearest dear, you certainly went and ran around as fast as you could,” Adeena offered as Edmund shifted into the most recent post registration mission.

He frowned and looked around.

Apparently Adeena could pull him into this space if she wanted to. Without him even getting a chance to allow it or stop it.

“Yes, yes I can, yes indeedy,” she murmured as he turned around to face her. “Because you’re only creating problems for yourself. No one else.

“Who else but I, Fates Fate, your Fate, your End, could tell you what you’ve done, other than I? This is just the reality of the situation.

“Dot-E, and yes that’s what they’re going to call her, won’t be very bothersome. She’ll realize that she can’t be running around with you as it would alert people to the fact that there’s more going on.

“Nor can she go back to her branch as it collapsed when you did what you did dearest dear. It ceased to exist and that’s all there is for it.

“We weren’t even done talking about Shadow-States and you just rushed right off. That’s not how you’re supposed to treat a lady. Taking what you want and just hurrying along without even a glance backward. I didn’t even get my kiss! Or Alina’s shift! I didn’t get a kiss for that one! Or a kiss to come here!

“You’ve broken our bargain thrice.”

Edmund felt something very strange at the last statement.

As if that it was far more than just the words.

He blew out a breath, looked down to his shoes, and knew she was right.

That she was right, he’d gotten ahead of himself, and rushed off. Without even thinking about consequences or what might happen with what he’d done.

“I already thought about… what to do about Dot-E,” he admitted, and then got down into a kneeling position in front of Adeena. “When Alina was feeding from me, I realized that I couldn’t just leave her her in my world. Not this Save-State. There already is a Dot and it’d just cause a lot of problems for their to be two of them here.

“I was trying to think of ways I could fix it, and I have a good way of doing it, but I had wanted to run it by you. Yet here you are and I find that you’re not just right, but right in triplicate and I owe a debt.”

Putting his hands on her knees he looked to her.

There was a strange magnetism and attraction to Adeena that he hadn’t ever been truly able to understand or conceptualize. A pull that drew him into her and one that had happened with such startling speed that it’d felt unnatural.

It’d spooked him, honestly.

“How can I repay your debt thrice-fold, Adeena Fateweaver,” he said, looking into the lovely young woman’s face. He wasn’t quite sure if it was the right line to take, but he didn’t want to leave this lingering between them. “And do forgive your Teddy-Eddy, he’s… nervous. He’s always gone slow with women and now he’s suddenly rushing so fast that he can hardly believe it.”

“I… yes,” Adeena said, both of her hands slapping to his face with a loud pat. She wasn’t trying to hit him, it just felt like she moved too fast without realizing it. “Yes. I understand. You will repay me in triplicate. I will collect three… makeout sessions. Where you just let me kiss you until I’m satisfied. Do we have an accord?”

“Yes, we have an accord,” he said with an odd grin. There were times that Adeena really did speak like someone out of this world, rather than a broken oracle. “Was there more to know about the Shadow-States? I feel like you explained it well and succinctly. That it was all fairly straight forward once you pulled back the curtain.”

“No… there isn’t move, you just ran off. It was rude,” she complained, looking like she suddenly wanted to pout, but her lips pressed together in a grimace rather than a pout. “I didn’t get my deal, it was rude, and you didn’t say thank you. My Eddy-Teddy, dearest dear. I’m your Fate’s Fate. You cannot escape me.”

Grinning, Edmund now understood something that he couldn’t deny any further.

She remembered everything he did just like Ellie.

“I understand, my Fate’s Fate, I apologize,” he said, leaned forward, and kissed her.

When he finally leaned away he only offered her another smile before he laid his head down in her lap.

“My End, I have a plan to free you from me. You’ve clearly already seen it. Is there a reason I shouldn’t do it?” he asked. “And what do you think about my plan to save Dot-E? I think it’ll work. Though it seems a touch off.”

“It won’t work. Well, not in the way you think at least,” Adeena said, his hands moving to lightly card through his hair. “I’m afraid there’s something I do need to talk to you about. Because there was always the possibility of it happening, but now that you’re starting to explore your Shadow-States, one particular Shadow-State is starting to explore you.

“But it’s not you, not what you’re thinking. It isn’t that Shadow-State’s Eddy-Teddy. It’s the Skipper. Skipping along and trying to change the world to the best of her ability. Her strength is terrifying, you know. It can even rival that of my own given certain conditions.

“Only Kit was able to truly stop her, but that wasn’t due to a power differential, it was just holding up a mirror to a mirror. A mirror to a mirror just shows a mirror’s mirror in a mirror world. Endlessly mirrors all the way down.”

“Uh… how’s that possible, exactly? Skipper isn’t… she can’t do what I do,” Edmund got out in a confused whisper. No matter which way he’d asked, or looked, everyone had told him there was only one of him. Regardless of the plane, alternate universe, or world, there was only one Edmund.

“Because… you’ve broken the boundaries down. Her ability to pierce the future and predict what is happening remains, but you’ve given her the chance to constantly shift and change each time.  You even… walked… her to the end of time. To the end of time and then left her there,” Adeena murmured. “You’ll remember there was a fight you had with her that left you an overcooked piece of bacon. Crunchy munchy with the licky monster. She licked you far more than she ever had to, but it was her way of care.

“Anyways. That skipping Skipper is skipping along. Her power desperately trying to get her into a position where she can resist what you’re doing. But not the Skipper you know, no. The Skipper you left with Time, the bitch.

“Time didn’t exactly enjoy what you did you know, you know. She didn’t like it that you brought someone with you. On top of being what you were, what you are, which is older than Time. It wasn’t as if they could reject your intrusion into their domain.

“They allowed you to move forward in the end, yes. My Teddy-Eddy. Let you move forward like a train on the tracks being allowed to push on.

“That didn’t mean they weren’t rushing ahead to the next wye switch. Trying to see if they couldn’t get you off their own track.

“Once you’d gone there, it wasn’t as if you could ever return to normal. Return to a point in time where it wasn’t true. You’re Edmund Isaac Strator. The man who has seen the end of time and the end of the universe.

“It isn’t as if you’re a normal person dearest-dear. My Eddy-Teddy. You were always special. Always unique. But now… now you’re beyond even that.

“Time isn’t against you, but she certainly isn’t in your favor. She’s allowed Skipper some leeway that she normally wouldn’t if you hadn’t taken her to the end.”

“The end,” Edmund said against Adeena’s lap. “Is there an end though? I don’t feel like there is. Time can’t really end, can it?”

“That’s an astrophysicist question if there ever was one, I’m afraid,” Adeena said with a laugh, tugging on his hair gently. “You took Skipper to a place that went beyond the boundaries of space and time because Time hadn’t gone that far forward yet. There’s always a set endpoint, you know, to how far you’ve gone. Your Save-States.

“There’s an endpoint to them. It’s not as if they exist indefinitely. The end point is literally the end point. Beyond that is… nothing.”

“I understand, I think,” Edmund muttered, then sighed. “So… does that mean Skipper might show up where-ever I go?”

“It’s a possibility. She’s probably seeing some extreme flashes of dangers, problems, and futures she barely comprehends. You might not. Now… a nice make-out session, followed by you going to settle Leila.”

“After Dot-E,” Edmund muttered. “I’m going to… take Dot-E and put her in a world where Dot died. Because after seeing everything that I have, I think… just inserting Dot-E into a world where Dot died, perhaps right at the moment of it, is the best I can do. But that doesn’t really solve her or anything does it?”

“Just leave her here. It’s fine,” Adeena assured him. “She’ll actually move away from your group quickly. She has her own purposes and a life here is one she wants to explore. The problem for Dot-E, is that Dot set up her little carry-forward spell. The less obnoxious and much less dangerous version of what Claire is doing.

“Except… it carried Dot to Dot-E. And now Dot-E is… the cherry version of the original soda. It’s nothing problematic, you’ll just find that Dot-E will be much closer to Dot.

“And no, I really don’t recommend you trying to get both of them in your little harem. Before you have that thought. If you think everyone teamed up on you before, Dot and Dot-E makes them pale in comparison.”

“Okay,” Edmund muttered. “Is Alina going to be screwed up after she takes in the blood in a moment?” he asked, wondering if he had ruined Alina, too.

“No. She actively chooses what to keep and what not to keep. There’s a number of things she’s dismissed. She’ll sort through everything you’re bringing over to her and keep what she wants,” Adeena said, then pulled on his ear. “Make-out time. Sit up.”

Edmund obeyed.

***

Alina hadn’t changed outwardly that Edmund could tell after she’d drank from him on his arrival.

She’d watched him for nearly a full minute after she’d finished drinking, just staring at him.

Then she’d cleaned up quietly and left to go get ready for the mission.

Likely doing exactly what Adeena had said, sorting through everything he’d brought over to her.

It didn’t help that they needed to go the spot that Leila, Red, and Sam would be exiting, and wait there for their arrival.

“Let me get this straight, Teddy, my love,” Ellie whispered, adjusting his armor for him and standing directly in front of him. “You went and saved a second Dot, now… Dot-E, then sprinted off to the end of the world, had Alina drink so much from you that it was almost akin to a blood donation, then came back here. With Dot-E and Alina getting what was essentially a second life.”

“Yes,” he said, then put his arms around Ellie and leaned into her. “If there were any free-floating Ellie’s out there, I’d go collect them, too. However, as far as I know, I already have. Jumping around to every Save-State I could to bring all of the… all of my Aenor Yew’s… together.”

“Yes, you’ve certainly done that. I have more memories in storage than I think most super computers do,” she muttered, sighed, then leaned into him. “I love you, Teddy. I love you so much. I’d do anything for you. I will always be with you, but… recently I feel like you’ve been running off without even talking to me about what’s happening anymore.”

Edmund held his breath, then slowly let it out.

She wasn’t wrong.

He really had been running about almost on his own.

Partly because he was starting to form plans on how to free everyone he’d drug around with him. Even Iren, in fact. To free them all of his meddling in their lives, and giving them a chance to live all on their own.

Ellie included.

To somehow free her from the constant pain he’d put her through.

He’d seen the look of pain on her face at the end of the universe. Had seen exactly the agony he had put her through, sitting by his side, and tending to his body.

Years upon years of work.

“I love you too, Aenor Yew,” he said, pulling her in close and tight. “I love you very much. I feel as if all I’ve ever done is drag you around and cause you pain. That I just… endlessly take from you. Endlessly.

“It makes me feel wretched… even as I sit on your stump taking the last of what you can offer.”

Laughing, Ellie seemed to just about bubble in his grasp. Moving about and pushing at him, then pulling at him, a pot boiling away at the lid above it.

“It’s okay. It’s okay! I’m just-I’m-I’m very happy and… and… I’m happy. Very happy,” she said, jerked at his armor and pushed her face into his neck. “I’m happy and we have sex and… and… and… I’m just really happy. You’re my man and I don’t have to share you with a grove or other Dryads.

“I know, there’s other women in your life, and I get it. But… they’re my friends. Actually, my friends. Not Groves and their strange… sister… wife… hierarchy system… thing. It’s weird and I find it a bit gross, but I’m very much a unique Dryad.

“But anyways… I’m just happy. I’m happy Edmund. Don’t worry about it. There’s nothing you have to do about it or try to change anything. I know you don’t like it and you’ve called me a giving tree in the past as well, but I don’t think I am.

“I was always going to end up struggling in life as the Dryad I am. I’m very conservative for most Dryads, I don’t really like being around other Dryads, and I don’t like the vast majority of things Dryads like. I mean… it took us a long while to start… sharing a bed.”

He couldn’t deny that from what he knew of Dryads, Ellie was a very different woman.

“You’d… even if I could free you from all of this, you wouldn’t want to be, would you,” he whispered, holding tightly to her. He had pitched his voice so low, so quiet, that it was actually possible Ellie may not have heard him. To make sure no one heard him but her.

“Never. I was excited to become your tree. To plant myself in you. I was so… so pleased… so excited,” Ellie murmured, holding to him with her Dryad strength. Strength that he always forgot existed until he was reminded of it. Strength that Ellie just didn’t display often and seemed to go to lengths to hide. “I was given a chance to be your partner. There were so many Dryads that it could’ve been. There’s lots and lots of Dryads out there, but only one Edmund.

“Don’t you dare try to take away what I’ve earned. I earned this. It’s mine. It’s not your place to take it away. In fact, because I know you, don’t you dare try to take this away from anyone else, either.”

She said it and thumped her small fist against his shoulder.

“I demand you talk to anyone who you think you’re saving by getting rid of, and see what they think. Do you understand, Teddy? My love?” she demanded. “Tell me you understand. Tell your Aenor.”

“I understand my Aenor, I will most certainly not go against your will,” Edmund said, laying his cheek to her temple. “You’re right. You’re… right. I’ll talk to Iren, Adeena, Alina, and Dot. I figured out a way to break through everything I’ve done and kinda… reset it all. Reset it to a point that would exist before I pulled everyone in. Go back all the way to the start of my life, really.”

Edmund’s plan was simple as hell.

Go to a point before he ever got involved with anyone. As a child no less. Before anyone could be impacted by his choices or actions. Where he could even get his sister out of this horrid life.

He had briefly considered trying to Shadow-State jump Earline right out of her life and into a different life. One that didn’t involve him, but there had never been another life for her.

There was nothing to Shadow-State jump her to unless he went backward to that point in time, then forcibly eject her from her life with him and his parents. Likely by getting his parents arrested and making it impossible for them to take care of Earline.

At which point she’d be given to someone else, and Edmund could then make sure that was a better life. Or intvene repeatedly until she got placed with a family that cared.

Even if she never knew he existed.

“That… that would work to a degree,” Ellie allowed suspiciously. “Not completely though.”

She was watching him closely at the moment. Apparently she had just now realized that he really had thought his way through the problem and came up with an answer that was workable.

Even she might not be able to escape a full reset, then Shadow-State jump that life, into the starting point of the main Save-State. From there all he’d have to do is live his life again.

This time being far more aware of everything, of what would happen, and how to give everyone their life back.

He even knew how to save Harper without ever letting her attach to him.

Except he knew that what his plan was, was selfish.

It’d only alleviate his own feelings of guilt, not theirs.

It was no different than taking actions without even consulting them or giving them a chance to weigh in on things. To let them voice their thoughts and express themselves about what was going on.

“Love you, Aenor,” he murmured, kissed her, then stood up. “Dot, you ready to open us a way through? Push us over to Australia and we can see what the hell those three women had to put up with and how we can save them?”

“Of course. What’s the wicked cursed princess in a tower supposed to do after all, if not assist her knight,” Dot said with a laugh. She and Dot-E had bonded quickly, though as Adeena predicted, Dot-E had made her own version of Dot’s spell, the two had a lot of overlap in their memories now, and they seemed better for it as a whole.

Though Dot really did seem amused and annoyed in equal measure that everyone was just calling her Princess now.

“I’m ready!” Iren said, wrapping an arm around Dot’s shoulders. “This Dragon-Waifu is here to cause problems. Because even if I’m a crappy Dragon compared to others, I’m still a Dragon.”

“Iren… are you really ‘crappy’ anymore though?” Alina asked, walking past Edmund and trailing her hand along his rear-end and hip surprisingly. “I have a good bit of memories now… of even the first Alina. You are much more fit, much stronger, taller, and you even had a difference in the way you carry yourself. You’re changing for the better, you just can’t see it. Though… your mind seems the same.”

“Oh… uh… yeah, I guess that makes sense. I thought my bra’s just didn’t fit anymore with all of the sex play and gotten loose. I guess I’m really just getting bigger? Huh. Alright,” she said, then went straight through the portal as it opened.

“Holy shit! There’s people!” she called followed by the sounds of gunshots.