Work Text:
Devastation and chaos are everywhere. The fountain is almost completely destroyed. Kay, Alf and Duck lie unconscious in different corners of Fountain Plaza, and Selly lies near the destroyed fountain. There is a fog in her eyes, so she can barely see anything. But she definitely sees a huge figure next to Kay, which caused this devastation. Suddenly Duke got up and turned to her. Selly felt bad, so she didn’t react right away.
— Selly.
She didn't hear him well. Her ears were ringing. He began to approach her.
— Selly.
Selly was still silent. She closed her eyes. Her head ached, legs and arms ached too.
— Selly. Answer me.
He was almost there.
— Selly, please answer me.
She opened her eyes. She saw his legs. Looking up, she saw the bright red eyes of her hated enemy. Looking down, Selly began to crawl away from him.
— What do you want? — Selly could only squeeze out a whisper.
— Selly. Look at me.
She did it reluctantly.
— What do you see?
Selly gritted her teeth.
— I see the worst train in my life, — she tried to sound menacing, but failed. He sat down next to her.
— Not right. You see the future leader of this world.
— No..
— And now look around, — he got up again, — come on, look around!
Selly looked up first at Duke. He threw his arms out to the sides, a happy smile on his face.
— Well? What do you see?
Selly looked around. The sky was dark red, half of the houses were destroyed, and her friends were lying on the ground unconscious.
— I see.. devastation and..
— Wrong again! — Duke shouted with annoyance, — you see a new wonderful world! — he himself began to consider everything around him, as if his best creation. Although, we can say that such a mess was his creation.
— Why is it's so wonderful? - Selly asked sadly.
— Kay has always been better than me. He took all the dearest from me. Everyone respected him, but they didn’t seem to notice me. But you were not like that, Selly, - he looked at her, - you always tried to talk to me, even though you were afraid of me. I agree with you, I was pretty gloomy. But I've always liked your company. But Kay was able to take you too. It was then that I decided that it would be better if he was gone.
— I now regret that I tried to contact you.. — Selly replied angrily.
— You shouldn't regret it. You would end up as your friends. Although, this is not a fact yet.
— Did you kill Jeffrey too?
— I didn't kill, but turned him off.
Selly clenched her fists. Tears appeared in her eyes. It couldn't have ended like this.
— Do you remember that night?
— What?
— Don't tell me you forgot that moment.
— What are you talking about?
Duke walked over to her, took her hands and raised her. Selly groaned in pain.
— Remember that workout that you did yourself? And what happened after it?
Selly woke up and saw... nothing. Only black emptiness and nothing more. The space seemed endless.
— What is it?.. Where am I?
She began to walk, but where? There is absolutely nothing here.
— Damn... is this... a former training place? I turned everything off.
Suddenly she heard someone pounding. Selly began to look around. The sound was everywhere and nowhere.
— Selly, — the voice was unfamiliar. Not like the others. It's more mechanical.
— Who is there?
— Why are you afraid?
— I-I am not afraid! Just... confused.
— Are you sure?
Selly began to step back.
— It's just a nightmare.. I dream about it all. I just got tired for the day, so I have such dreams...
— Are you sure this is a dream? — suddenly from behind someone took her hand. Selly jerked and turned to where the stranger was. She saw red eyes.
— Who are you?..
This someone came out of a certain shadow. It was Duke. More precisely, just a copy of it, as Selly thought.
— You are the same virus that infiltrated the workout..
— Almost, — he began to approach her.
— Stay where you are! Don't come to me!
— I won't hurt you.
— How should I know? Maybe you're lying?
— Oh, Selly. You have always been distinguished by intelligence and ingenuity.
— What do you want?!
— I just want to talk to you.
Selly was about to run away from him, but he firmly grabbed her and pulled her to him.
— Let me go! — Selly tried to push him away, but his grip was as tight as the real Duke.
— Selly. Why do you consider Kay as your leader?
— What?
— Does this world seem perfect to you? - suddenly he made an exact copy of the Fountain Plaza. Duke began to scan everything around him, still holding Selly.
— Don't you think that something is missing here?
— What are you talking about?
— Look. See Kay and his friends? — he pointed to exact copies of the previously mentioned trains.
— What if I do this? — suddenly he snapped his fingers, and they disappeared. The picture turned dark red, all the trains disappeared, and the houses were destroyed.
— This is a perfect world, — said Duke enthusiastically. Selly tried to get out of his grasp again.
— Let me go!! It's all fake! It's just a dream, a nightmare!!!
Duke lifted it to the level of his eyes and looked at her.
— Trust me, this is more than just a dream. I want to rule this world and destroy everyone. But I can make an exception for you. You have always been special.
— Stop, shut up! Let me go now!!
— Silly Selly.. — Duke let her go, and she ran away from him into the unknown.
— Run as long as you want. You won't run away from me.
Selly suddenly woke up. She looked around. It was definitely her base. It was just a dream.
— So it was you too?!
— Well, who else? — Duke smiled smugly.
— What do you want from me now?!
— Hm, — Duke thought, — you can be my assistant. You're smart, quick-witted, besides a hacker and a local doctor. I will definitely need such a train.
Selly didn't want to give up. There must be some kind of plan to stop him. Suddenly an idea came to her mind.
— Where is Becky?
— Huh? Becky? Running somewhere. There was no point in destroying her.
Great. Selly can contact her right now and discuss a plan of action.
— Well, why are you silent?
— What?
— Will you rule this world with me? If not, then don't worry, I'll make you, you still have no choice, — Duke smiled. One could say that this is cute, if you don't take into account the fact that he was a traitor and a villain. Selly decided to play along with him.
— Okay. I agree.
— What? Really? — Duke was surprised, — honestly, I didn’t expect this from you... but I also like this choice.
— Can you... put me down? — Duke gently put her on her feet.
— Duke... you're right. That world was not perfect. And Kay was an unworthy leader. You're... much better than him, — she couldn't believe she could say that.
— Finally you get it.
— I'm sure the two of us will be great... leaders. And no one can stop us.
— It’s not for nothing that I doubted you, Selly. You can always count on, but...
From this "but" Selly's engine strained.
— But don't think that everything will be easy for you. You have to do something to me.
— W-what exactly?.. — out of the corner of her eye, Selly saw Becky with nano-bombs. Great.
— If I say it will ruin the surprise, and besides, you need to be prepared. So are you rea-
— Becky! NOW!!
Becky began to direct a bunch of nano-bombs towards Duke.
— Huh? What?! What the heck?! — Selly took advantage of this moment and ran to Kay. He was unconscious, but still breathing. Maybe there is some way to get him back on his feet. Suddenly, she heard the explosion of nano-bombs and Duke's scream.
— It worked! Well done, Becky!
— Don't think it's over.
Suddenly, something hit Selly in the head. She instantly fell, and her eyes dimmed.
— Sorry, but simple bombs won't be enough.
The last thing Selly felt was being lifted into her arms and carried away somewhere.