Scene 26

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The world shook as Mav charged into the dark room. He bumped into something gooey which overlay a large and metallic object. The darkness obscured everything. But darkness always fled from Mav. 

“Guiding Light!” 

Flames shot from his shoulders into the air. They were meant to rest on the ceiling to brighten the room, but they spread as more tendrils caught flame. 

Mav’s heart pumped in, his hair beginning to rise. The room had only two features in its center: a permanent table or operating bed that Mav had bumped into and some horizontal pod. To the right, a long cabinet ran along the room’s length with shelves overhanging it. To the left, a gaping hole led to a completely different room. From the hole, hundreds of dark tendrils snaked across the floor, wall, and ceiling, burying everything beneath it. Lumps on the floor likely represented rubble from the destroyed wall, though one in the far corner moaned in pain. Mav’s heart pumped out, his hair on end. 

“Cleaning Fire.” 

Like candlelight to spider’s silk, the controlled fire vanquished the cursed roots in a wave. Something massive churned through the opening in the wall, but the pod before Mav drew his attention. 

A warm, dull glow emanated from a glass section. As Mav walked closer, he treaded upon wires and tubes connecting the pod to the metal table. What was inside seemed to remove all the cold that had built up in Mav’s body. 

“Wait...” a man – the one beneath the tendrils – croaked, feebly reaching to Mav as he gripped the pod’s door. “You’ll ruin everything.” 

Mav’s fingers melted the pod’s hinges, then he wrenched the door aside. 

“You fool!” the man said, beginning to crawl forward. 

“Hey, little one,” Mav said, voice calm and soothing. He reached into the pod. “There we go. You’re safe now.” 

He pulled out the Baby Titan. 

“Leave it,” the man said. 

But Mav only had eyes for the Titan. It was a four-legged Land-type, by its dark and light brown coloration, with a little striped tail. Its body was similar to that of a small, feral cat, but its head was different. The back of its skull extended outward, creating a small frill. 

The creature should have been beautiful. It shouldn’t have had rods skewered into each of its legs, through its tails, at the nape of its neck, and the small of its back. Its fur should have been luxurious, not in matted patches across its skin, which definitely should not have clung to every bone in its body. It shouldn’t have half its teeth missing, nor should its calls be weak, pathetic mewls. 

And its eyes should have been wide with wonder, curiosity, and delight. It should have found a child it would connect and then interlink itself with. It should have experienced the world through their eyes, gifting them with miraculous skills, which they themselves should use to serve and protect others. 

But its wide eyes were filled with fear, pain, and confusion. Its heavy breathing pushed its tiny chest against Mav’s sturdy one as he cradled the poor creature. 

Someone called his name from behind. 

The man continued crawling toward him. 

Tremors shook from the other side of the wall’s hole. 

But none of that mattered to Mav. 

“It’s fine.” Mav gently stroked its sunken cheek with a finger. “There’s no need to fear anymore. I’m here to save you.” 

The Titan’s breath slowed. Mav smiled. It blinked and its pupils grew smaller. 

“That’s right. Nothing’s gonna hurt you.” 

It blinked again, its eyelids unable to rise all the way. Then again and again. Each time, its eyes opened less and less, its breathing returning to a natural rhythm, then a lethargic one. 

“You’re safe.” Mav smiled at it, petting its cheek. “You’re safe.” 

It closed its eyes. The room had stopped shaking, yet the tiniest rumble remained from within the Titan – almost a purr. Then the little body stilled, matching the surrounding world. 

The Titan’s body disappeared into light, wafting over Mav’s face until it vanished into the ether, leaving behind only a warm sensation on his cheeks, clattering equipment on the floor, and teardrops on Mav’s forearms where the little miracle left this world.