"Answer me, you loli bitch!" Shade screams at the top of her lungs for the hundredth time that day.

She stands in darkness, in her mind, only able to see what is happening outside through two giant oval windows she discovers to be her own eyes. This is obviously Death's punishment.

First, Shade hugs Death, then her friends, then she sings and falls on her face. Her seething rage, wanting nothing more than to turn those three bitches into glue.

"Raaargh!" Shade roars. Just thinking about the day makes her sick. "I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!"

"Ye~ees?" Death singsongs behind Shade.

Shade turns to see the smug Death standing a few feet away. "If you let me go now, I promise to make your death quick."

"Why are you so angry?"

"You are using me like a puppet!" Shade shouts.

Death cleans out an ear with a hoof, "I'm right here, Shade. Indoor voice." She teleports with a giggle to dodge Shade's swipe. "I'm not controlling you, Shade. What you've seen is how you would be if you had not witnessed your mother's death and grew up in a normal household."

"So. . . your punishment is to make me hate myself more?"

"No, Shade!" Death sighs. She collapses to the floor and rolls to her side. She stays that way for a long time, just staring at Shade sadly.

"What?" Shade finally asks.

"Love is incredibly painful," Death mulls.

"Okay?" Shade cocks her head at Death in confusion.

"Love. Am I even capable of it?" Death speaks to her hoof circling the black floor. "I try my hardest at everything. I tried never to anger father; I speak back once, and I'm locked away forever. I tried to help Ñoilèwä, and he betrays us all. I try to help Grey, give him all my 'love,' give him everything. . ." she trails off and sniffles. She rubs her nose on her left leg. She sees Shade shift awkwardly. "And you don't even care, do you?"

"Not in the slightest," Shade answers honestly.

"Pfft. Figures. You ungrateful shit." Death snaps. "The lot of you! ALL of you!" Death jumps to her feet and speaks through her gnashing teeth, "You! You are my greatest failure! I try time and time again one million, five hundred and sixty-seven, eight hundred and twenty-three times to be exact to set you right! But. EVERY. FUCKING. TIME. No matter what I do, you always " Death stops herself and covers her mouth. Tears start to stream down her face. Shade stares at her with a cold, hard expression. "You. . . you are not a failure, Shade," Death sobs. "I. . . I didn't mean. . . I'm sorry. I shouldn't have "

Shade turns her back to Death and focuses on the gray outside and dimming sky.

"Shade," Death sniffles, "I just want what is best for you. I don't want to see you hurt."

"Then stop looking at me," Shade replies bitterly.

Death exhales and sees her breath billow before her. The whole area begins to freeze. "Shade?" Death's heart shatters when Shade turns to face her with a single tear falling.

"You are dead to me," Shade manages to whisper through quivering lips.

"No!" Death reaches out a hoof which turns into a hand. In a blink, Death is standing before a human Shade, "Shade, I'm sorry!"

Shade stares at the ice forming on the ground. Why don't you just make another me for another one of your experiments.

Death runs over to Shade but a wall of ice rises from the ground to protect Shade. Death bashes on the wall, "I'm sorry!"

"What's wrong?" A voice echoes in Shade's mind.

Death recognizes the voice instantly, and a small smile of hope spreads across her face.