I don't believe it. It's simply not possible! It can't be him. It just can't! There is no way in hell that it's him!

'I want to see how long it takes you to get out of your denial stage.'

I'm not in denial because there is no way it's him!

'Yeah, keep telling yourself that.'

In the crater, on top of my dark counterpart, layed a human shaped figure that was wearing a very recognizable get up. The dark coat of Organization XIII. In the darkness of the hood, two bright red round glowing eyes were apparent.

The figure grunted and jumped up, rubbing it's back. [Click it!] ”Holy hell. If that is what happens when you deal with gods, I should have done it sooner.” It- sorry, he said.

….....

Wait, what?

He looked around to see the deep crater he was in. ”Woah.”, He said in awe. ”Did I do that? I must be some kind of meteor. That would be so awesome.” He said and rubbed his hands together. He stopped and looked at his hands. Then the rest of his body. He whistled. ”Cool beans. Always loved black. Black like granny's armpits.”

Please, just stop speaking like him. It's painfull to hear.

He seemed to take notice of us looking at him. ”What? Never seen a guy fall from the skies before? Sheesh. Wait.....” He proceeded to hop up and down. ”Oh boy, oh boy. Such odd creatures I'm seeing. A big doggy and.....” He stopped hopping and used his hands as binoculars. You know, like kids do. ”Are you two Nobodies?”

I didn't react but Elie nodded, having nothing she could say.

”Interesting. Things like you in here. Very odd. Yes, indeedy!” He said as his glowing eyes shifted to narrow slits, as if they were closed in a thoughtfull expression. He nodded his head many times.

Eve was looking at me for answers. I just shrugged, telling her I had just as little clue as she did.

”And why does the ground feel so weird?”

”Grrrrrr.”

He looked under his feet to see Xolhowl, on top of whose he was standing. His other leg was over it's head. ”Oh, 'ello mate. Didn't see you there. Are you mildly or majorly injured? Want some Jell-O?”

Xolhowl somehow managed to swing it's sword at the dark coated figure, who just jumped out of the way. ”Whoah, easy there mate! No need to blow your shit. Though I too would be mad if someone fell on me from out of nowhere. I would be more confused now that I think of it, since it would be pretty much impossible. How funny. For somone to fall from the sky with no logical explanation.”

Through his rambling, he had dodged all the attacks Xolhowl had thrown at him. I don't think he even realised he was being attacked. It was getting more difficult for me to deny it.

”It is a very weird day. Here I was, minding my own business in my room and then the fricking Mad God comes to meet me. I tell you, I thought I was heavy trippin' on shrooms.”

He then grabbed one of Xolhowl's swords midswing with his gloved hand. [battle music!] ”Could you stop that, it's very bothering.” He said and threw a punch to it's face. It was thrown back and then it got a kick in the chest. He then grabbed one of the black swords and looked at it. ”Well, it ain't diamond, but close enough.” He said and attacked with a stab, which Xolhowl just evaded.

”Aren't you going to help him?” Elie asked and pointed at the fight.

”Okay, I'm going to be very blunt.” I deadpanned. ”Because I don't want to die. If that is who my Brain thinks it is, I'm not going to risk it.” She did not argue.

”What are you, maggot?” Xolhowl cried out in anger. He got an answer in a form of a barrage of quick slashes. It seemed to have a hard time parrying all the attacks. I could hear the coated figure began to sing a song as he continued his attack.

”Do you like my sword, sword?
Sword, my non-diamond sword, sword

You can not afford, 'ford
Ford, my non-diamond sword, sword
Even if you could, could
I have a patent!

He cut a clean gash into Xolhowls shoulder.

No one else can make a sword
Exactly in this manner, manner
Welcome to my manor, manor
I ca ca ca canna canna

Xolhowl tried to land a blow on the coated figure, but he just stepped out of the way and kneed it in the stomach.

Swing, swing, swing my sword, sword
Whenever I get bored, bored
I can swing my sword, sword
I can swing my sword, sword!

He parried an counter attack and kicked it in the face. Xolhowl hit the ground, but quickly got up.

Once I hit the floor boards
But I had it restored
And it was expensive
But it was a write off!

Swinging is my business
And by that I mean swinging swords
you can not not ignore
Do you like my sword?

He dodged a bunch of stabs and gave Xolhowl a stab of his own. It pierced the spot where it's heart would be, staggering it.

Ha!

That was retorical
You know I am the oracle
I know you like my sword
It's made of freakin' diamonds(not really)

He threw the sword high in the air and punched the staggering Xolhowl multiple times in rapid succession.

If you don't you're lying
But that would be fine
Because it is awesome
And you're probably jealous!

I can swing my sword, sword
Cuz I am the lord, lord

He circled behind it and the sword fell into his hands, and without even looking back, he thrusted the blade through Xolhowl's chest.

Lord of non-diamond swooooorrrrrddddssssah!”

Xolhowl fell on the ground, unmoving. It's body soon evaporated into black smoke, swords included.

[battle music, over.]

”WRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!”, He let out a battle cry. ”Wait. Am I supposed to yell that before or after the battle? Ah, who cares.”

The three of us looked at the sight stunned. It took me and Elie our combined effort to land a few hits on Xolhowl, and he took him down without taking a single hit. And that song. Well, let's say my denial stage just passed. It was most definetily him.

”Wow.” Elie said, amazed. ”Your friend is badass.”

”Hollow's friend strong.”, Eve mused.

I scowled a little. ”He isn't my friend.”

”And that, ladies and gentle....man, all without a single drop of rum!” The coated man proclaimed proudly, quickly adding, ”Speaking of rum, I need to get wasted. Haven't gotten one drop of booze in twelve years.”

I stepped forward. ”What are you doing here?”

He turned to me and began walking closer. ”Now this is intresting, your voice sounds familiar. I wonder why?” The second he was close enough, I took his hand, moved it behind his back and put him in an arm hold. He was about a head taller than me. ”Oh, hey! I know that hold. It was used by my- OW!” He yelled out as I tightened my hold by moving the arm upwards. ”Okay, okay. I give. Uncle! UNCLE!”

After a few more yells of 'Uncle!' and 'HOLY RAPTOR JEESUS!', I released him and he started rubbing his shoulder.

”You meanie, you know how fucking much that hurts when you do that!” He yelled to my face.

”Would you rather have me play a game of 'palm-meets-face'.” I retorted.

He crossed his arms. ”Touche.”

”Umm, very confused here.” Elie said, turning our attention to them.

”Who are these? Friends of yours? ….... You have friends?” He said with mild suprise.

”Shut up.” I said and punched him but he ducked under it.

”You have much to learn young grasshopper.”, He said in his Mister Miyagi-voice and waved his finger at me.

'I know you want to kill him right now. Don't. Do it.'

I will ignore you now, Brain.

”Okay, mind telling us what is going on, because we are kinda lost.” Elie said motioning at herself and Eve.

”Yes. Is he Hollow's friend?”, Eve asked.

I looked at Elie with mild disbelief. ”You don't know?”

”Well, just because I am a piece of your soul does not mean I have your memories.”

I should have guessed.

”How do you two ladies know this little fella, anyway?”, He asked, turning to the girls. ”Funny. He never did strike me as a player.”

I aimed a palm strike to his head, but he grabbed my hand before it could connect.

”Why so aggressive today. We haven't seen each other in twelve years. Is a hug too much to ask?”

”Shade, aren't you supposed to be locked up in a mental asylum...... and how do you know Pirates of the Caribbean?”

”Internet.”, Shade answered instantly. ”They let me use it in turn for me shutting up and stop biting people. A good deal if you ask me.”

”..... Then how are you here?” I was getting annoyed now.

”Oh, that. Sheogorath came and made me fall from the sky. It was fun.”

”The Daedric Prince of Madness. Really?” I asked in disbelief. Then again, I was sent here by a god myself.

”As I live and get drunk. Speaking of which,” He said, scouting his surroundings. ”where is the nearest bar? I want to get wasted!”

”You are not drinking! I forbid it.” I said adamantly.

”Yes, mom.” He countered sarcastically. ”Stop yelling at me! I am a just a little boy.”

”You're 27.” I deadpanned.

”A big little boy.”, He countered.

Oh, how could I forget. It's impossible to reason with him. Why do I even bother?

”Waaaait a minute.” He said and walked to Elie. ”What do you mean a part of you?”

Slow reaction!

”I am a piece of his soul that has scattered to many different fragments of his psyche.”, she blurted out. Smooth, Elie. Smooth.

Shade looked thoughtfull.

Make one incest joke and I swear to god, I will kill you on the spot!

'Woah! Easy there, tiger.'

”Well ain't that dandy!” He cheered. ”I think I get it. Maybe..... Kinda......Meh, who cares.”

”How about you show your face? Take of your hood.”

”Huh?”, Was his reaction. ”Okay. I don't see where you are going with this, but okay.” He slowly took of his hood and lowered it down. Elie and Eve gasped. There was nothing inside. Where his head should be was nothing at all. He felt the spot with his hand. ”Well what do you know!” He exclaimed. ”Haha! Allways fun to mess with your head- Okay. Bad joke.” He put his hood back on and the red eyes appeared again.

Eve was the first one to speak up. ”Hollow's friend weird.”

”Ditto”, Elie complied.

”Well, I'll better be off. Need to find me some booze!” He left walking.

”Wait!” I yelled after him. ”There is a-” But it was too late.

Shade suddnely fell down with a ”Wheeeeeeee!” and a loud thud afterwards.

”-cliff.” I grunted and shook my head.

Eve and Elie looked worried.

”Don't bother.” I said. ”With his luck, he'll live and find his way into a city.”

My words were confirmed by a loud, ”I knew there was a cliff! Shut up!”

I glanced at the sky. The sun was setting. ”We better set up camp. Nightfall approaches.”

I began to walk away. ”Hollow still not tell who that is.” I heard Eve say. Elie had folded her arms, expecting an answer.

I stopped and glanced back. I felt their gazes on me. I sighed in defeat and got it out there.

”His name is Shade. He's my older brother.” I walked away.

I didn't need to see it, but I heard their jaws hit the ground. I ignored the reaction and walked to the bunch of dead diamond dogs. They, even though they were sent to capture slaves, didn't deserve to be left to rot here, out in the open. I opened my chest and pulled out a shovel I had taken from Trottingham if I ever needed it for situations like this. I pulled out another shovel and threw it to Elie, who almost dropped it in suprise.

”Help me bury them. They deserve that much.” I said and began digging a hole for one of the dogs. Elie quickly came to aid me. Eve was very insistant that she wanted to dig her father's grave herself. Apparently diamond dogs are natural diggers, as it took her under a minutes to dig large hole in the ground.

Once we had made enough holes and put the dead diamond dogs to rest. We filled the graves and I even made a makeshift cross out of large branches I cut of a tree and some rope and shoved it on top off Eve's fathers grave.

We then walked away from the graves, as none of us wanted to set camp and rest on the land where the dead lie. Setting up the tent, that I pulled out of myself, naturally, was rather tricky when you have to do it yourself. Eve didn't know how to do it and Elie started acting like a ”little princess”, saying how working does not suit her. I could only submit to take care of it myself.

'This might take a while.'

For once, Brain, we agree.

Ladies and gentlemen, mares and gentlecolts! Let me introduce the second most badass guy in this story. Shade, Hollow's insane older brother! And worry not, this is not the last time we will hear from him.

Let me also point out that, whenever Hollow makes a reference, he does it almost 99% of the time on pure accident. He doesn't know much of that stuff. Shade on the otherhand is a reference cannon! Also completely random, but you should know that by now.

Allways your friend

Doctor D, the Big Brother Next Chapter: Conversations and beliefs Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 28 Minutes