Ryuji sat in the hallway with his head down, his eyes on the floor as Celestia, Luna, and Twilight get fixed up in the medical rooms. The rain could still be heard hitting the roof and against the window and the thunder clapped every now and then. He clasped his hands tightly as the images from earlier repeated in his mind over and over. The way those he cared for looked at him, the carnage he inflicted. The killing was a part of what he was. But the way he did it to those four figures...from the inside. It was something he had never done before. Ton uses the power of the void to possess a living being and tear them up on the inside only to have their body explode...But he had no choice. He was either to die and let his new family be tormented further, or give his void demon partial control to save both them and himself from death. His thought process was suddenly interrupted by that all too familiar voice.

“Hey kiddo. How are you holding up?”

Ryuji’s gaze slowly rises to see his doppelganger leaning against the wall across from him with his arms folded, offering a smile that seemed both friendly and sinister at the same time. Ryuji looked around as time seemed to stop for him. Doctors and nurses who were walking past him suddenly froze in place, and the rain outside had stopped in place as well. What this all in his mind? It must be.

“Y-yeah. I am doing alright. A good bit of rest and I will be fine. But I'm more worried about..them.”

He said as he looked back towards the rooms that had the three ponies in them. His gaze then returning back to the void demon in his image. The double walked over and sat next to Ryuji and placed a hand on his shoulder, almost in a comforting manner.

“I gotta hand it to you. It took balls to do what you did. You took my power without me corrupting your mind in the process. You know that is always a risk you will face with me. And yet for those you care about, you were willing to take that dangerous step. You know I have nothing against you personally. Hell kid, I like you. But I am a demon, after all, itis in my nature to corrupt my host’s mind. And with that slight mental damage, you took from the emotional trauma, you need to stay on point and not let me slip in. My power is ever available to you. It will make you stronger for sure, but at the same time, it gives me an opportunity to penetrate your mind and claim it for my own.”

Ryuji nodded in understanding. He knew the risks. But that still didn’t stop him. He turns to look at his doppelganger with a determined gaze. This making the demon arch a brow in curiosity. Ryuji stood up and walked over to the window and gazed out into the still outside. He tightens his hands into fists. And lets out a light grunt.

“Then I will have to improve my mental fortitude even further. I will get stronger so I can draw upon more of your power when I need it and decrease the risk of full corruption. This will not stop me from protecting those I hold dear. I will not let myself be a defenseless tenno who cannot fight without his warframe. I will further improve my own void abilities and physical and mental strength. Because I know one day...Hydroid will be out of reach at some point. And I will not be unprepared. All I ask of you is your support. After all, you have been with me since the very beginning. Haven’t you?”

The doppelganger chuckled lowly and stood up as he approached Ryuji’s side and nodded. This new found desire that he was feeling from Ryuji certainly caught his interest. Would this void demon’s vessel become something greater than he initially thought? He certainly could not wait to see the end result.

“You will is strong Ryuji. And you have a heart that is kind, but you are also not afraid to get your hands bloody. I won’t lie, I consider myself lucky to be a part of you. Why do you think I appear to you from time to time? To see how you grow and develop. Just remember, you need to better yourself all around to draw from my power when you need it. In order to gain power, something must be given in return. Show me that you can deny what I desire and take what solely belongs to you. Show me that you can lay claim to my full power. I want you to, dammit.”

Ryuji had never heard the void demon speak to him in such a personal manner..and with such encouragement. Does he truly want the tenno to become so powerful and not have to worry about overpowering the demon with ease? Well, regardless if he did or didn’t, his new found desire and determination would surely see to that. Anything to keep his new family safe. He knew hard times would be ahead and that he will suffer hardships. But that is the life of a tenno. So why stop now?

“Make me proud, kiddo. I will be watching you as I always do. Don’t get yourself killed.”

With another pat on Ryuji’s shoulder, time seems to start moving forward again. Was this all just in his mind? Or did time truly stop? It didn't matter either way. As he watched the rain resume its fall, he heard the doors behind him open.He turns his gaze to see Luna, Celestia and Twilight walk out as if they had never even been hurt in the first place. No wounds, no bruises, no anything. Their medical abilities are highly advanced to be sure. Then again, they were only stab wounds, thankfully it was only just that. Ryuji quickly makes his way up to them and looks them over. A smile forming on his lips.

“You are all okay...thank the stars…”

Before any of them could say anything, Ryuji wrapped his arms around all three of them in a hug. They all returned the embrace. But Celestia looked to Luna and Twilight and nodded to them.

“You two go get some reason. I need to speak with Ryuji about something rather...personal.”

“As you wish, sister.”

“Of course princess.”

Ryuji watches both Luna and Twilight head off to..wherever they were going before turning his attention to the white alicorn with a slightly worried look on his face. Celestia noticed this right away and shakes her head with a smile. She brings her hand down to lightly caress Ryuji’s left cheek.

“There is no need for you to worry, Ryuji. You are not in any trouble. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Would you...please come with me? I have something I need to tell you. And I feel now this is the proper time and only time I may feel...well...brave enough to tell you.”

Ryuji was actually really concerned with what she wanted to tell him. Was she really okay? Why would she want to tell him something she didn’t want others to know about? She reaches down and takes his hand into her as she suddenly teleports them both into her chambers. He actually handled his first teleportation very well. Then again, having been in the void, it really wasn’t all that hard. Celestia walks them both over to her bed and pats the spot beside her, inviting Ryuji to come sit with her. He wastes no time in doing so and sits beside her, his gaze looking up towards her face and then down to her hands. Judging by the blush on her cheeks and the way she was fidgeting with her hands, this must have been really hard for her to tell the tenno. He slowly reaches over and places a hand on top of her and offers her a warming smile.

“Hey...take your time, Tia. I have no place to be in a hurry. Whatever you need to tell me, there is no rush..”

Her heart nearly leaped from her chest as she felt his hand rest on top of hers in such a soft and comforting manner. Ryuji was acting like the kind soul he was to someone he cared for greatly. However, the words that were about to come out of Celestia’s muzzle were going to throw Ryuji for a loop. And hard. She sighs and finally gains the nerve to tell him exactly how she felt about him. No more hiding it.

“Ryuji...in the time you have been here, I have watched you ever since you came here. I have watched you make friends with my dearest student and her own friends as well. And you have come to their aid and mine multiple times when you didn’t have to. And you have promised to further aid us in the future as well.I cannot express my gratitude enough.”

“Oh, Tia. It’s no issue at all. Sure, things have been hard as of recently. But I always came out on top. I promise I won’t ever let anyone get away with hurting you or any other members of my new family. In fact, I plan on increasing my own strength from here on out. I cannot rely on Hydroid all the time, for he may not be near when I need him one day. So in order to keep my loved ones safe, I am going to get stronger for them.”

She suddenly takes hold of his hands and clasps them in her. Her gaze now only inches away from his. Ryuji’s heartbeat suddenly started to pick up as he felt her eyes gaze into his with such...love and want. Here it comes…

“I..I have fallen in love with you, Ryuji! My heart aches because I have fallen in love for the first time in nearly over a thousand years! You..are brave, kind-hearted, and so caring to those you hold dear and are not afraid to defend them. You have become so so very precious to me, Ryuji. I just can’t hold back my feelings anymore!”

Ryuji blinked a few times at her sudden confession. She loved..him? But why him? He wasn’t any kind of royalty, let alone a pony. That last few seconds of silence felt like an eternity for the tenno as his gaze remained locked with hers. A blush started forming on his face as he struggled to find the words to speak.

“Tia...you can’t be serious with this. You have developed those kinds of feelings...for me? I will admit, the thought of having a partner here has crossed my mind. But never did I dare dream it would be you. I would consider it an honor to become your partner. But…”

He said before standing up and walking away from her.He lowers his head and balls his hands into fists as what he was going to say was going to probably hurt Celestia. He knew it was going to hurt himself as well.

“I can’t...at least not now anyway. Things are still too volatile with me and these...Fates. And the last thing I need is for them to use you against me. If I gave you my love now. They would exploit that and find a way to kill me as I am now.”

Celestia could feel her heart nearly breaking as he declined her confession. But what he said stopped her from breaking down into tears. He said ‘At least not yet.’. That meant...she still had a chance with him! And a very good one at that.

“S-so, you aren’t saying no...right?”

He shakes his head lightly, he turns back to her and approaches her, lightly bringing his hands to her cheeks and rubs them gently.

“No, all I am saying is not right now. Give me more time, Tia. Let me get stronger and let’s get this kingdom well protected from future threats. By then, should you still feel these feelings for me, simply ask again. And I will give you my answer. But for now…”

He leans in and wraps his arms around her in a tight hug, pressing his form into her body as he does so.

“Please continue to be there for me when I am in need of support. I will look to you quite a bit during these times after all. Will you do that for me?”

She wraps her arms around him in a tight embrace, nuzzling into his cheek as she holds onto the one she loves for dear life.

“You could ask me to move mountains for you, and I would be happy to do so…”

They remained in the embrace for a bit longer as the rain hit against the window of her chambers. Ryuji had quite a bit of a way to go, but now with the motivation and the prize now waiting for him at the end, he was ready.

Author's Note

And with this chapter, I move on to another project for now. Get ready for one of my most fleshed out OCs ever to come into their own story. This character I have had for years, just about as old as my fursona.

May the darkness grant you peace.